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TECHNOLOGY SCI ENCE
JUNE 2004
GIANT
GYROS
Lift Millions Of Pounds
Fly At Mach Speeds
Land Anywhere
SHORTY
SHOTGUNS
New Collector
Craze
NEWEST
DIGITAL
CAMERAS
Postersize
Your Pictures
NEWEST
DIGITAL
CAMERAS
Postersize
Your Pictures
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17 Technology
Watch
I A new and improved way to
perform CPR.
I Mans earliest ancestor found
in Ethiopia.
I Robots take care of the elderly.
I Portable air conditioners for
troops stationed in Iraq.
I Space Shots and Earth News
this month, . plus more
38 Building Atoms
A metal found in smoke
detectors helps scientists
nd two new elements.
78 Where Time
Began
Peering deep into space,
the doomed Hubble Space
Telescope sees the dawn of
creation.
86
46 New Cars
2005 Mercedes-Benz SLK and
E320 CDI, Chrysler Crossre
Roadster, MazdaSpeed
MX-5 Miata, BMW 645Ci
Convertible, Jeep Wrangler
Unlimited, Audi A6, Saab
9-2X, Volvo V50.
48 Detroit Spy
2006 GMC Sierra pickup.
50 Asia Spy
2005 Inniti M45; 2006 Nissan
Xterra; 2007 Toyota Supra.
86 Long-Term Test
Cars
Two fresh faces join the eet as
a familiar one leaves.
123 Car Care
I AUTO CLINIC
Car care Q&A.
I SATURDAY MECHANIC
Curing steering wander.
94
NEED SPACE?: See our step-by-step
guide to installing a new hard drive.
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Heavy-lift gyroplanes will haul civilization to the
far corners of the world, and two companies are
competing to be rst in the air. PAGE 74
THIS MONTH
AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY SCIENCE
2 JUNE 2004 | WWW.POPULARMECHANICS.COM
30 Sony Style
Sleek bodies and killer
technology are the focus in
Sonys new product lineup.
32 Data Recovery
Dont fret. You get back that can
lost computer information.
82 How To Change
A Hard Drive
Adding hard-drive space for
more storage.
90 Best New
Digital Cameras
Even lm purists will want
to use the new models intro-
duced at the Photo Marketing
Association show.
JUNE
ANSWERS FOR CURIOUS MINDS PM
42 Pressure Cooker
Sea-Doos new PWC packs
a water-boiling 215 super-
charged horsepower.
94 Coach Guns
Shorty shotguns played a
critical role on the Western
frontier. Now theyre regaining
popularity among Old West
enthusiasts.
98 Garden To Go
These outdoor planters are
easy to build and give you
the exibility to move plants
around your yard.
103 Hang Tough
New tool belts are like a toolbox
on your hip.
110 Bright Stu
Better, brighter light bulbs.
112 Showstoppers
The 15 best picks from the
International Builders Show.
116 Homeowners
Clinic
Answers to your tough home
improvement questions.
116 Book Review:
Home Inspection
Checklists
Our resident Home Q&A
expert has seen it all in the
past 20 years, and shares his
knowledge with you.
ON THE COVER
Art by Paul DiMare, Neal Barrett.
SYNTHETIC ROOF: It looks like cedar
shingles, but its not. We found it at
the International Builders Show.
90
6 EDITORS NOTES
10 COMMUNICATE
WITH US
12 LETTERS
14 TIME MACHINE
134 GREAT STUFF
154 IT WORKED FOR US
78
THE NEW KING OF PWCs: Sea-Doos
new 215-hp RXP personal watercraft.
P
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PM
OUTDOORS HOME MONTHLY
JUNE 2004 | WWW.POPULARMECHANICS.COM 3
June 2004 Volume 181 No. 6
POPULARMECHANICS.COM
@
WHATS HOT THIS MONTH ON THE
PM
INVENT NOW AMERICA
POPULAR MECHANICS recently partnered
with the National Inventors Hall of Fame
for the frst annual Invent Now America
contest. The program was created to
promote the development of the everyday
invention. The PM.Zone brings you exclusive photos and
the winners of this event, which was held in Orlando, Fla.
Go to www.popularmechanics.com/links/invent for the
complete story.
SCIENCE
POPULAR MECHANICS is
pleased to ofer one lucky
reader the chance to win one
of the most innovative home
products on the market- the
iRobot Roomba.
First:
Go to the PM.Zone and
read our feature on Roomba
www.popularmechanics.com
/roomba
Then:
Go to our contest page
at www.popularmechanics
.com/links/roombacontest
and answer the following
question:
What kind of light signal
do the iRobots use to
communicate?
All of the correct answers
will be entered into a
sweepstakes for a chance
to win.
Good Luck!
THE AMERICAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY MEETING
A record number of physicists converged
on Montral for the American Physical
Society Meeting. Topics covered at
this meeting included Instrument and
Measurement Science, Magnetism and Its
Applications, Shock Compression of Condensed Matter, and
Statistical and Nonlinear Physics. For the full story go to
www.popularmechanics.com/links/aps
SCIENCE
PM.ZONE GARDENING TIPS
The PM.Zone has a wide range
of great articles pertaining to lawn
care. Click below for some classic
and new gardening articles that
will leave your garden looking
great for the summer. Go to
www.popularmechanics.com/links/
gardening
HOME
GREAT AUDIO DEVICES OF 2004 (SO FAR)
Audio devices are shrinking in size and growing
in power and convenience. The PM.Zone has
a wide array of product reviews and features
of the most convenient audio devices ranging
from headphones to MP3 players. Go to
www.popularmechanics.com/links/audio to
check them out.
TECHNOLOGY
The help
you need is
always at
Ace.
For projects big
or small, the advice
and supplies you need
are available at your
neighborhood Ace.
www.acehardware.com
THERE ARE OVER 200 WAYS TO BE A SOLDIER IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY.
FIND OUT MORE AT GOARMY.COM OR VISIT 1-800-USA-ARMY.
Win a Free
iRobot Roomba
2004 Citibank (South Dakota), N.A. Citi, Citibank, Platinum Select and Citi with Arc Design are registered service marks of Citicorp.
MasterCard is a registered trademark of MasterCard International Incorporated.
* After the promotional period, the standard APR for purchases will be applied to all remaining balance transfer amounts. (As of March 1, 2004, the standard variable APR for
purchases: 9.99%; the standard variable APR for cash advances: 19.99%.) However, if you default under any Card Agreement, we may immediately increase the rate on all
balances (including any promotional balances) to a variable default rate of 27.99%. The minimum finance charge is $0.50. The transaction fee for cash advances is 3.0% of the
amount of each cash advance; but not less than $5. The transaction fee for balance transfers is 3.0% of the amount of each balance transfer, but not less than $5 or more than
$50. However, we will waive the balance transfer transaction fees on balances you transfer in response to this offer. The membership fee is $0.
** First balance transfer and $100 in purchases must post to your account and not be returned within three months of becoming a cardmember to receive this rate until September
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12 JUNE 2004 | WWW.POPULARMECHANICS.COM
To be considered for publication, please include
your full name and address, even if you send via
e-mail. Well withhold both upon request but we
will not print any anonymous letters. All letters
are subject to editing for length, style and format.
READER PROJECT OF THE MONTH
If your project is chosen as Reader Project Of The Month, you will receive a token of our appreciation for sharing your
project with us. For your project to be considered, please send a clear, color photo and brief description to: Reader Project
Of The Month, Popular Mechanics, 810 Seventh Ave., 6th Floor, New York, NY 10019.
I
BUILT this fberglass 3-wheel, 2-seat diesel
vehicle because I couldnt fnd a car that ran
economically enough. This car gets 70 mpg and
rides smoothly. It has air-ride suspension, is stable on
the road and can maintain highway speeds. Because
its a 3-wheel vehicle, the car is registered as a
motorcycleso the license and insurance cost much
less than they would for a 4-wheel car.
EUGENE F. WRIGHT, Drums, PA
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Enjoy the satisfaction that comes from something as surprisingly simple as creating your own showroom
quality garage floor. Just one coat of easy-to-apply Rust-Oleum
EPOXYShield
S
BACK I N
THE SHOWROOM.
PM TIME MACHINE
1
0
0
Years Ago
(June 1904)
SUB-JECTIVE
Author Jules Verne, expounding on the
future of the submarine, said that its
use would be conned to war but would
ultimately bring peace. Verne said that
there was no defense against the sub.
He foresaw battle eets becoming use-
less, and said that as other war material
continues to improve, war will become
impossible. Verne followed maneuvers
of the French and English navies, and
was impressed with the subs ability to
slip in, strike and get away in safety.
JUNIOR JET
This midget helicopter, built by Benson
Aircraft, weighed only 100 pounds but
could lift more than four times its weight.
The craft, with a rotor span of only 15 ft.,
was powered by two 5-pound aluminum
ramjet engines that were mounted on the
tips of the rotor blades. Benson claimed
speeds of up to 80 mph. Designed for the
military, the chopper could t easily into
an average-size garage. PM
TRICKY BUSINESS
This ad for the Ventrilo, a
small instrument that t in
the mouth, promised boys
the ability to throw their
voice into a trunk, a desk
at schoolanywhere. You
can get lots of fun fooling the
teacher, policemen, peddlers
and all your friends, accord-
ing to the ad. The Ventrilo cost
just 10 cents.
75
Years Ago
(June 1979)
Years Ago (June 1954)
50
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Years Ago (June 1929)
14 JUNE 2004 | WWW.POPULARMECHANICS.COM
FEELING LOW
Forget sharks. Jaws was
a tea party compared to the
kinds of jobs that industrial
divers were taking on. Some-
times working in total dark-
ness, and at record-setting
depths, these divers faced
a variety of formidable haz-
ardsincluding claustropho-
bia. Dive sites ranged from
offshore oil rigs with their
strong currents to the highly
dangerous environment inside
nuclear reactors.
s
THINK OF IT AS 120 POUNDS OF JUNKYARD DOG
STUFFED INTO A FOUR OUNCE FLASHLIGHT
The new E2D Defender self-defense flashlight.
Just what Dad wants on June 20.
What do you do when things go bump in the night? If youre
prepared for the worst, you reach for the E2d Defender, a personal
safety device that packs a powerful defensive punch into a very
small package.
Originally developed for anti-terrorist units, its advanced
technology Xenon lamp produces a spot-free beam so intense it
can momentarily blind an attacker (four times more lighting
power than a standard two D-cell flashlight), and its crenellated
Strike Bezel
www.surefire.com 866-210-4674
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TECHWATCH
AVIATION DEFENSE ENVIRONMENT ROBOTICS TRANSPORTATION COMPUTERS ENERGY MEDICINE SPACE
A
N overweight man walk-
ing ahead of you clutches his
chest and falls to the oor.
If you have been trained in cardio-
pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) you
know exactly what to do. Sadly, most
bystanders can only dial 911 and wring
their hands while waiting for an Emer-
gency Medical Service (EMS) team.
In Tucson, Ariz., events play out
differently. As the result of a com-
munity-wide public educational pro-
gram, many residents here are ready
to save lives by applying a streamlined
form of CPR.
The basic idea behind traditional
CPR is to move oxygen into the lungs
with mouth-to-mouth breathing and
to move blood through the lungs and
circulatory system with chest com-
pressions. We thought wed gured
out how it worked, says Dr. Robert
A. Berg, a professor of pediatrics at
the University of Arizona who helped
develop the new technique. But then it
became apparent that there was more
to be learned.
What Berg and his colleagues dis-
covered was that the mouth-to-mouth
part of the procedure is counter-
productive. During the 15 seconds
chest compressions are interrupted,
blood oxygen levels begin to fall mark-
edly. Maintaining a steady pace of 100
compressions per minute furnishes
the heart and brain with more oxygen
than if the tempo were interrupted for
mouth-to-mouth breathing. The uni-
versity shared its nding with the citys
initially skeptical EMS unit.
They had to sell the science of
this to us. They had to prove it hands
down, Joe Gulotta, Deputy Chief of
EMS for the Tucson Fire Department,
tells . Popular Mechanics
Convincing evidence came from a
study of people who were taught either
standard CPR or chest-compressions-
only CPR. The people in the [standard
CPR] group were so bludgeoned with
information that they were paralyzed,
says Dr. Karl B. Kern of the Cardiac
Catheterization Laboratory at Univer-
sity Medical Center. He is the coordi-
nator of the Sarver Heart Centers CPR
Research Group in Tucson.
I believe this will become the uni-
versal standard, says Gulotta.
A Better Way To Restart Hearts
They had to sell the science of this to
us. They had to prove it hands down.
JUNE 2004 | WWW.POPULARMECHANICS.COM 17
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TECHWATCH
F
OSSILIZED teeth found in
Ethiopia have revealed mans
earliest ancestor, a nearly 6
million-year-old biped that lived in
a once lushly wooded area 180 miles
northeast of Addis Ababa. Ardipi-
thecus kadabba may represent the
rst species on the human branch of
the family tree just after the evolu-
tionary split between lines leading to
modern chimpanzees and humans,
says Yohannes Haile-Selassie of the
Cleveland Museum of Natural Histo-
ry. This claim is based on the discov-
ery of teeth (left) that are similar to
those of a chimpanzee
(far left) but lack their
fanglike shape. This
suggests the newly dis-
covered species fought
in some way other
than by biting.
TOOTHY TALE:
A. kadabba
lacked the
chimps self-
sharpening
canine teeth.
Teeth Reveal Early Ancestors
Stamping Out Transistors
A
N unusual method for
printing circuits on sheets of
plastic may reduce the cost of
manufacturing exible displays and
help scientists understand how such
devices work.
We construct transistors by lami-
nating a piece of silicone rubber that
supports electrodes and dielectric
layers for the transistor against the
surface of a single crystal, says John
A. Rogers of the University of Illinois
at Urbana-Champaign. In other
words, he stamps out transistors.
While this assembly process
could be performed commercially to
produce complex circuits, we real-
ly designed it to get at the physics,
Rogers says. Understanding the fun-
damental behavior of transistors will
help us make better devices.
Forecasts On
Your PC
I
NTERNET weather news offers
good regional forecasts but can-
not always predict sudden storms.
Rita the cyberfrog lls the information
gap by turning any PC into a complete
weather station. Beneath her amphib-
ian exterior lie temperature and pres-
sure sensors that report to a nearby PC
through its serial port. FroggyHome,
software shipped with Rita, uses local
data to rene forecasts. Ritas develop-
er, Alpes DEIS of France, is looking for
a U.S. distributor.
FAST TRANSFER: Stamping out circuits
will make big-screen TVs cheaper.
Sensors spot
changes in
weather.
EDITOR JIM WILSON
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18 JUNE 2004 | WWW.POPULARMECHANICS.COM
(Please turn to page 20)
REPORTERS STEFANO COLEDAN, SANDRA ERWIN, SCOTT GOURLEY
Weve got over 57,000 answers. Between now and the end
of July, when you buy a new 2003 Honda VTX
(terazosin
HCl), Flomax
(doxazosin mesylate),
Minipress
(alfuzosin HCl).
medicines that treat abnormal heartbeat. These include quinidine,
procainamide, amiodarone and sotalol.
ritonavir (Norvir
)
ketoconazole or itraconazole (such as Nizoral
or Sporanox
)
erythromycin
other medicines or treatments for ED
HOW SHOULD YOU TAKE LEVITRA?
Take LEVITRA exactly as your doctor prescribes. LEVITRA comes in
different doses (2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg). For most men,
the recommended starting dose is 10 mg. Take LEVITRA no more
than once a day. Doses should be taken at least 24 hours apart.
Some men can only take a low dose of LEVITRA because of medical
conditions or medicines they take. Your doctor will prescribe the
dose that is right for you.
If you are older than 65 or have liver problems, your doctor may
start you on a lower dose of LEVITRA.
If you are taking certain other medicines your doctor may prescribe
a lower starting dose and limit you to one dose of LEVITRA in a
72-hour (3 days) period.
Take 1 LEVITRA tablet about 1 hour (60 minutes) before sexual activity.
Some form of sexual stimulation is needed for an erection to happen
with LEVITRA. LEVITRA may be taken with or without meals.
Do not change your dose of LEVITRA without talking to your doctor.
Your doctor may lower your dose or raise your dose, depending on
how your body reacts to LEVITRA.
If you take too much LEVITRA, call your doctor or emergency room
right away.
WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF LEVITRA?
The most common side effects with LEVITRA are headache, flushing,
stuffy or runny nose, indigestion, upset stomach, or dizziness. These
side effects usually go away after a few hours. Call your doctor if you
get a side effect that bothers you or one that will not go away.
LEVITRA may uncommonly cause:
an erection that wont go away (priapism). If you get an erection
that lasts more than 4 hours, get medical help right away. Priapism
must be treated as soon as possible or lasting damage can happen
to your penis including the inability to have erections.
vision changes, such as seeing a blue tinge to objects or having
difficulty telling the difference between the colors blue and green.
These are not all the side effects of LEVITRA. For more information,
ask your doctor or pharmacist.
HOW SHOULD LEVITRA BE STORED?
Store LEVITRA at room temperature between 59 and 86 F
(15 to 30 C).
Keep LEVITRA and all medicines out of the reach of children.
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT LEVITRA.
Medicines are sometimes prescribed for conditions other than those
described in patient information leaflets. Do not use LEVITRA for a
condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give LEVITRA to
other people, even if they have the same symptoms that you have. It
may harm them.
This leaflet summarizes the most important information about LEVITRA.
If you would like more information, talk with your healthcare
provider. You can ask your doctor or pharmacist for information
about LEVITRA that is written for health professionals.
For more information you can also visit www.LEVITRA.com, or call
1-866-LEVITRA.
WHAT ARE THE INGREDIENTS OF LEVITRA?
Active Ingredient: vardenafil hydrochloride
Inactive Ingredients: microcrystalline cellulose, crospovidone, colloidal
silicon dioxide, magnesium stearate, hypromellose, polyethylene
glycol, titanium dioxide, yellow ferric oxide, and red ferric oxide.
Norvir (ritonavir) is a trademark of Abbott Laboratories
Crixivan (indinavir sulfate) is a trademark of Merck & Co., Inc.
Nizoral (ketoconazole) is a trademark of Johnson & Johnson
Sporanox (itraconazole) is a trademark of Johnson & Johnson
Hytrin (terazosin HCl) is a trademark of Abbott Laboratories
Flomax (tamsulosin HCl) is a trademark of Yamanouchi
Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
Cardura (doxazosin mesylate) is a trademark of Pfizer Inc.
Minipress (prazosin HCl) is a trademark of Pfizer Inc.
Uroxatral (alfuzosin HCl) is a trademark of Sanofi-Synthelabo
Only
08669034IP 8/03 2003 Bayer Pharmaceuticals Corporation
12030 Printed in U.S.A.
Patient Information
LEVITRA
(Luh-VEE-Trah)
(vardenafil HCl) Tablets
Marketed by:
GlaxoSmithKline
Research Triangle Park
NC 27709
Manufactured and Marketed by:
Bayer Pharmaceuticals Corporation
400 Morgan Lane
West Haven, CT 06516
Made in Germany
LEVITRA LEVITRA LEVITRA LEVITRA
LEVITRA
LEVITRA
L E V I T R A
L E V I T R A
L E V I T R A L E V I T R A L E V I T R A L E V I T R A
L E V I T R A
L E V I T R A
L E VITRA
LEVITRA
LEVITRA
Manufactured and Marketed by:
Bayer Pharmaceuticals Corporation
400 Morgan Lane
West Haven, CT 06516
Made in Germany
a
h
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USO photo by Mike Theiler
5
PM TECHNOLOGY
the Federal Emergency Management
Agency of hard drives. Services such
as theirs come in as a last resort when
nothing else worksand theyre not
cheap. While Symantecs software
costs $39.95, Dinhofers services
start at $250 and go up to $3500 for a
single drive. But hes able to take a
drive that is just shy of completely
hosed and get someor even most
of your data back.
Data recovery services each have
their own techniques, but usually
the rst step is to get the damaged
drive up and running again. The serv-
ice clones your drive to a blank drive
and then works on the cloned drive.
As for the damaged parts of the drive,
they attempt to work around those
portions.
Once a damaged drive is cloned to
another drive, the service will pick the
low-hanging fruit by using data recov-
ery software, either an off-the-shelf
variety like Symantecs or one that is
custom-made. If thats not successful,
a recovery specialist will attempt to
rebuild the data on the drive by hand
by recreating the master boot record
(MBR), which among other things
tells the computer how big the drive
is, and the master le table (MFT),
which tells the computer where all
the bits of data are on the drive.
I know what [MBRs and MFTs]
look like and I can go in there and nd
them, correct them and then we can
use some form of data recovery tools,
says Dinhofer.
But recovery services cant work
miracles. A drive that has had a mas-
sive head crash is usually a lost cause.
Moreover, moving large amounts
of data around the drive is almost
guaranteed to overwrite some les
you want to recover.
So when you have a drive crash
or erase les inadvertently, step back
and take a deep breath. Dont use
the computer. Calmly and coolly get
a data repairman on the phone or try
to remedy the problem yourself by
using recovery software. Your data
depends on it. PM I
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WHERES MY DATA?: Recovering data
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not impossible.
JUNE 2004 | WWW.POPULARMECHANICS.COM
Soak daily for clean, long-lasting teeth. Use WD-40
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speci al adver t i si ng sect i on
A CUT ABOVE
A
nyone who has a yard knows
that grass needs to be
mown, and a Little League
field in particular needs great care.
Certainly they know it at , Husqvarna
where they make everything from
chain saws to weed whackers, as
well as lawn mowers and tractors.
For this project Husqvarna donated
a CZ4817, a residential model that
turns within its own length and
that is operated through a unique
dual-lever steering system. A 17 hp
Kohler Command engine, which
can push it 6.5 mph. In addition
to the speed, theres also a 10
gauge stamped steel deck thats 48
inches wide, so it makes the mowing
go quickly.
An electric power clutch means
its easy to engage the blade and a
foot-assist deck lift makes it just
as simple to adjust the cutting
height, which ranges from 1.5 to
4.5 inches. An hour meter ensures
that you wont miss engine service
intervals, while a large five-gallon
gas tank will keep it running for
even the biggest job. And while
youre out there, a drink holder
and small glove box add pleasant
creature comforts.
OUR VERY OWN
FIELD DREAMS OF
regrading the field, which
they did by first survey-
ing it with dual-slope laser
technology. The years of
neglect had left the field in
a bad state and in some
areas the workers had to
move around up to six
inches of soil. Once that
was done, they excavated
the entire infield to a depth
of four inches. Thats the
kind of labor thats perfect
for a professional grade
truck like the GMC Sierra
1500, a Crew Cab that
seats six yet can haul
1835 pounds of payload
with its 5.3 liter Vortec
engine.
With the field leveled, the
crew then designed and
installed the irrigation
system. The unit included
20 sprinkler heads running
off an electric timer and
a 2 in. supply line pump-
ing a minimum 75psi. The
wide range of equipment
donated by Ace Hardware
is a great help with any
kind of project like this
Sports Turf
Management
set about
regrading the
field...first
surveying it
with dual-slope
laser
technology.
n
one, where everything from
a basic tool kit, to shovels,
augurs and leather gloves
comes in handy.
Now that the irrigation was
in place, the infield was
refilled with four inches of
a special clay blend, that
not only provides a consis-
tent, quick draining sur-
face, but that ensures the
field will be soft and deep
enough to prevent injury.
After the infield was laser
graded to a tolerance of
1/4 of an inch, the mound,
home plate and bullpens
were installed. The outfield
was sodded with a durable
Bermuda grass that comes
in specially cut 42 in. wide
strips that run 75 ft. long,
and once it was in place
it was overseeded with
perennial rye grass that
keeps the field green
and beautiful while the
Bermuda is dormant.
Next, the team built fences
down the foul lines and a
home run fence 200 ft.
from home plate complete
with a warning track that
encircled the field from
dugout to dugout. Bases
and a pitching rubber were
installed and outside the
field two batting cages
were put in. These
combination of fencing
and netting and allow both
teams to take batting prac-
tice during the game and
even before the game they
can get a few swings with-
out tearing up the field.
At this point, everything
was set for play except for
one finishing touch: the
scoreboard. A Daktronics
The outfield
was sodded
with a durable
Bermuda grass
overseeded
with perennial
rye grass.
speci al adver t i si ng sect i on
55x14x12 cages are a
Harsh weather conditions are always on the attack. So arm your
wood with the superior protection of Minwax
Helmsman
Spar
Urethane. Its a tough, clear finish formulated to beautify and protect
wood. Special ultraviolet absorbers defend against fading. And special oils allow
Helmsman
to expand and contract to avoid cracking and chipping that occurs with
seasonal temperature changes. From winter blizzards to torrential downpours
to scorchi ng summer sun, make sure
your wood fights backwith the protection
of Helmsman
Spar Urethane.
elements, use Helmsman Spar Urethane.
minwax.com
2004 Minwax Company. All rights reserved.
the right concrete mix for
your project.
With the electronics in
place it was finally time to
play ball, the workers set
about perfecting the scor-
ers box behind home
plate, where the official
scorers could watch the
action and run the score-
board. The raised wood
platform was coated with
Minwax Helmsman which
speci al adver t i si ng sect i on
For long-lasting protection against the
,
LED model, it shows
both the score and the
time and is operated
by a radio control
remote, so theres no
need to run wires and
it can be used from
anywhere on the field.
The actual installation
required two holes dug
to a depth of five feet
with a 36 in. diameter
in which the support
poles were set with
Fast-Drying Quikrete.
Quikrete offers more
than 200 products that
would provide you with
speci al adver t i si ng sect i on
A WINNING
RIDE
L
ike all the trucks GMC
builds, the Sierra 1500
Crew Cab is professional
grade. By that, the company means
that it performs to a higher stan-
dard. Its a standard that comes
from having a passion for what you
do, so that your work exceeds your
expectationsand in fact, GMC is
constantly trying to outperform its
own capabilities. They seem to have
done so with the Sierra 1500. With
four full-size doors it has enough
head and legroom to seat six adults.
Theres a heart-jolting 295 hp Vortec
5.3 liter engine that produces 330
lb. ft. of torque, which means it has
plenty of pulling power. Thats not
to say that this brute is without finer
touches. Its available with a Bose
premium audio system, XM radio,
a rear DVD entertainment system
and OnStar service. Working hard
or playing hard, the Sierra 1500
Crew Cab, like all GMC trucks,
is a grade above.
OUR VERY OWN
FIELD DREAMS OF
protects it from water,
mold, heat, cold and UV
rays, and will keep it look-
ing great for years.
Opening day was Saturday,
March 6, and everything
went perfectly. A host
of city officials-from
Recreation Director to the
Parks Commissioner to the
local councilman-were on
hand for the invocation
and actual ribbon cutting,
since the city government
played an important role in
making the project a suc-
cess. The field looked
incredible and all con-
stituencies of the newly
formed Ben Hill Little
League were out for the
occasion. Speeches were
made, a local Color Guard
played, the coach, like
many of the workers
before him, wore boots
donated by Wolverine, and
the parents filled the seats.
Then in two separate
games, close to 50 Little
Leaguers got a chance to
step up and take a swing
on the brand new field.
They had a ball.
speci al adver t i si ng sect i on
Close to 50 got a chance to Little Leaguers
step up and take a swing on the brand new field.
They had a ball.
speci al adver t i si ng sect i on
Special thanks to the
following companies
for their contribution to
1-866-LOCATE ACE
www.acehardware.com
800-462-8782
www.gmc.com
www.husqvarna.com
800-282-5828
www.quikrete.com
800-270-6079
www.wolverinebootsandshoes.com
703-519-0013
www.waterworkswonders.org
800-367-6297
www.thompsonswaterseal.com
800-8-BATTERY
www.rbrc.org
800-523-9299
www.minwax.com
OUR VERY OWN
FIELD F
Ribbon cutting ceremony on opening day
2
PART
Giant
BY ILLUSTRATION BY JIM WILSON PAUL DIMARE
Gy ros
Heavy-lift gyroplanes haul civilization
to the far corners of the world.
SCIENCE
74 JUNE 2004 | WWW.POPULARMECHANICS.COM
r
Some of the worlds most valuable resources are in the last
places on Earth. The wastelands of Siberia, the rain forests of Bra-
zil and the deserts of Antarctica hold vast stores of rare metals,
oil and natural gas. Despite their value, these treasures remain
untouched. It is simply too expensive to bring in the manpower
and equipment needed to extract them. Over the next decade,
this situation will change as a new eet of fast, powerful and versa-
tile aircraftheavy-lift gyroplanestake to the sky.
JUNE 2004 | WWW.POPULARMECHANICS.COM 75
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AGE OF THE UNIVERSE (BILLIONS OF YEARS)
13.7
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80 JUNE 2004 | WWW.POPULARMECHANICS.COM
INSIDE HUBBLE
One of the two new cameras, the
Hubbles Advanced Camera for Sur-
veys, makes it possible for astronomers
to see galaxies two to four times faint-
er than Hubble could see with its
previous cameras. Called ACS for
short, the instrument can detect radia-
tion below visible light frequencies,
which enables astronomers to spot
some of the most remote galaxies in
the universe.
It is likely that this baby picture
may hold the record as the deepest-
ever view of the universe until NASA
launches HSTs successor in 2011:
the James Webb Space Telescope
(JWST). Unlike Hubble, the new scope
will scan the universe exclusively using
infrared instruments. Like automobile
foglights, they will penetrate through
the haze of interstellar and interga-
lactic dust that limits visibility, thus
giving the next generation of astrono-
mers a look back in time to the era
of galaxy formation and beyond.
Using the Webbs 21-ft.-wide mir-
ror, astronomers may see the birth of
stars and planetary systems similar to
our own. Moreover, scientists hope to
shed light on the so-called dark matter
question and begin to understand the
nature of this invisible material that
pervades the universe.
JWST is scheduled to launch in
August 2011 aboard a European
Ariane 5 rocket, which will place it on
an orbit far too high to be serviced by
the space shuttle. In retrospect, this
was a fortunate choice, as President
George W. Bushs new vision for space
exploration requires the shuttle eet
be grounded by 2010. PM
SECONDARY
MIRROR
SOLAR PANELS
PRIMARY
MIRROR
Two new cameras installed
by astronauts gave Hubble
the ability to see faint
images in a portion of the
sky that previously had
appeared empty.
shapes: Some look like thin sticks
while others could be classied as
plain old cosmic oddballs.
A key question, astronomers say, is
whether the universe looked the same
at the age of a few hundred million
years as it did when it was between
1 billion and 2 billion years old.
In short, the question is this: When
did the universe start to tidy up and
take the form we see today?
LONG SHOT
The historic images
Hubble gathered were
taken during 400 Earth orbits from
September 2003 to January 2004.
During this time the telescope was
pointed at the same location in space
for a total exposure time of about
1 million seconds.
The area populated by the Ultra-
Deep Fields 10,000 galaxies is below
the constellation Orion. At rst glance
the eld appears almost empty. If
observed from the ground, scientists
say, the apparent size is equivalent
to one-tenth that of the full moon.
NASA astronomers have compared
this to looking at the sky through an
8-ft.-long soda straw.
It will take years to determine how
far into the depths of the universe the
Hubble can see, but apparently one
camera caught sight of galaxies that
existed 400 million years after the
big bang. Additional research will be
needed to conrm the discovery.
PEERING DEEPER
Examining the frequency of light from
the Ultra-Deep Field has made it pos-
sible to identify about 1000 objects,
says Sangeeta Malhotra, one of the
principal investigators at the Space
Telescope Science Institute.
Included among them are some of
the intensely faint and red points of
light in the imageprime candidates
for distant galaxies, Malhotra says.
Some of these objects are among the
farthest and youngest galaxies ever
seen. The spectra also distinguish
among other types of very red objects,
such as old and dusty red galaxies,
quasars and cool dwarf stars.
CAMERA
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The question is
this: When did
the universe start
to tidy up and
take the form we
see today?
JUNE 2004 | WWW.POPULARMECHANICS.COM 81
For more science features check out
the PM.Zone Web site
POPULARMECHANICS.COM/SCIENCE
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Adding hard-drive space for more storage.
HOW TO CHANGE A
HARD
DRIVE
BY ILLUSTRATION BY CHRISTOPHER ALLBRITTON GRIFF WASON
There are a lot of reasons for replacing your hard
drive or adding a new one to your old computer, but they all
boil down to the need for more space. Perhaps you want to
keep all your videos, pictures and MP3s on a drive separate
from your operating system. Or maybe you want a hard drive
that spins faster than your old one so you can get a bump in
system performance.
No matter. This article will primarily deal with adding a
second internal hard drive to your system, but well also talk
about replacing an old hard drive with a new one. In the lat-
ter case youll need to transfer your data to the new drive.
Otherwise, theres no difference in technique.
83
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BACKING UP
If youre replacing a drive, the rst
thing you want to do is back up your
data. You dont need to keep every-
thing, but you will want to copy to
a CD or an external hard drive any
personal documents, pictures, mov-
ies and sound les that youve saved.
Also, keep handy the installation
discs for any specialized software.
Youll need to reinstall these pro-
grams when you get your new drive
up and running.
Another option is to buy a hard
drive enclosure that converts an inter-
nal hard drive to an external one. We
recommend the Bex-HD-135 ($69 to
$99) from Baber.com. You remove the
original drive, snap it into the enclo-
sure and seal it. Voila! You now have
an external drive with all your data on
it. Once you install your new drive and
the OS, youll be able to drag and drop
your personal les into it.
An enclosure is the recommend-
ed means of preserving data when
replacing an old drive. If youre simply
installing an additional drive, disre-
gard this step.
PREPARING TO INSTALL
We decided to add a Western Digi-
tal Caviar SE 250 internal hard drive
($249) to an old Dell Optiplex GX1
system we had lying around the ofce.
In this system, up to two 3.5-in. hard
drives may be installed in the vertical
bracket at the front of the computer.
Youll easily spot the bracket after
removing your machines cover.
Next youll need to decide how you
want to congure the jumpers on your
hard drives. Jumpers are small switch-
es that determine how your drives will
work with your operating system. If
youre using two EIDE (Enhanced Inte-
grated Drive Electronics) drives, like
we are, and your system isnt too old,
youll probably be able to use the Cable
Select jumper position. The position of
the drives on the cable connecting the
drives to the motherboard determines
how theyll work.
Your hard drives are connected to
the motherboard via long, at, gray
ribbon called an interface cable. When
two EIDE drives are connected to a sin-
gle interface cable and are congured
to use Cable Select (the default jumper
position), the drive attached to the end
of the cable is the master, or bootable,
drive. The drive in the middlecon-
nected to both the motherboard and
the master driveis the slave drive. It
will appear as a second hard drive in
your Explore menu under Windows.
Well be keeping the master drive and
adding a slave drive. You can reverse
this, but remember: Unless there is an
operating system installed on the mas-
ter drive, your system wont boot up.
INSTALLING YOUR DRIVE
The rst thing you want to do is make
sure all of your computers devices,
cables and power cords are discon-
necteddont forget the power cable.
Next, ground yourself and discharge
any static electricity you may have
built up. You can do this by simply
touching a metal surface such as the
computers power supply.
Next, check that your new EIDE
drive is set for the Cable Select jumper
position. This step will differ depend-
ing on the manufacturer, but usually
it involves locating a set of pins on the
back of the hard drive and setting the
jumpera small plastic sleeve that
covers two pins. Refer to the documen-
tation that came with your drive.
Now you will remove the hard
drive bracket from the computers
chassis, 1 . Unplug the interface
and the power cables from the origi-
nal drive. The power cable will be a
smaller connector with multicolored
wires running into it.
Then, remove the screws holding
in the bracket. The bracket will lift
right out.
Slide your new drive into the empty
bay, making sure the pins and connec-
tor slots on the back of the hard drive
face the back of the bracket, 2 . Also
The need for more space is the main
reason to replace a hard drive.
1
Locate the screws securing the
drive bracket and remove them.
Be sure not to lose them.
2
Slide your new drive into the avail-
able space in the drive bracket.
Pins should face the back.
3
Plug in the power cables, making
sure to align the plugs properly.
Make sure the plugs are secure.
84 JUNE 2004 | WWW.POPULARMECHANICS.COM
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check that the power connector will be
closest to the bottom of the computer
when the bracket is reinstalled.
Most drives will come with screws
with which to secure the drive in the
bracket. Find these and insert them
into the proper holes for your bracket.
Reattach the power and interface
cables to the original drive, 3 , and
attach the appropriate cables to the
new drive, 4 . The colored edge of
the interface cable should line up with
Pin 1 of the connector on the back of
the drive. (There is usually a notch on
the connectors for the interface cable.)
Place the bracket back in its place
and tighten the holding screws, 5 .
Replace the cover of the computer and
boot up.
Your computer will not detect the
new drive immediately. It has to be
formatted under Windows XP. We
inserted the CD that Western Digital
provides with its hard drives and it
took us through formatting the drive
for Windows. After a few moments,
we restarted (just to be on the safe
side) and we had our extra 250GB
of storage.
RESTORING YOUR FILES
If youve replaced your original drive
instead of adding a second one, youll
not see your familiar boot screen.
Instead youll be asked to insert a
bootable CD or foppy drive. Its at
this point that youll pull out your
Windows CD and begin the long
installation process. If youve put your
original drive in an enclosure, you can
just drag your fles from the external
drive to your new internal drive after
the installation is complete. Then you
can erase the original drive and use it
for whatever you want. We suggest
using it for backup storage.
CONCLUSION
So there you go. Nothing too compli-
cated. Just a willingness to roll up your
sleeves and attach a couple of cables.
The rewards of a new drive are
many. You now have extra room for
movies, photos and music flesthe
essentials of a modern multimedia
computer. By adding a new drive,
youve taken the frst step in upgrad-
ing an old computer and youve done
it for a lot less money than buying a
new computer. PM
By adding a
new drive, youve
taken the frst
step in upgrading
an old computer.
5
Reinstall the bracket in its original
position and tighten the screws to
hold it in place.
4
Attach the interface cable to your new drive. The colored edge of this cable
should line up with Pin 1 of the connector on the back of the drive. There is
often a notch that will help you align the parts.
For more technology features check
out the PM.Zone Web site
POPULARMECHANICS.COM/TECH
JUNE 2004 | WWW.POPULARMECHANICS.COM 85
But no matter what theyre called, some
things will always adhere to their tra-
ditional roots. To help illustrate the
point, as a favorite crossover leaves
our eet, we welcome a humble sedan
along with whats really the modern
interpretation of the family wagon.
CHRYSLER PACIFICA
According to the folks at Chrysler, the
Pacica is not another crossover SUV
nor is it a minivan. They claim that it
dees any classication. It seems to
us that the Pacica is the most recent
itera tion of the once-familiar station
UTOMOTIVE executives continue to create
new market segments and niches, and constantly
try to redene long-lived conventional vehicle types.
A
Two fresh faces join the eet
as a familiar one leaves.
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Long-Term
86 JUNE 2004 | WWW.POPULARMECHANICS.COM
e
wagon. Since we love wagons, we
decided to try one on for about a year.
Well, our Pacica has a tailgate and
four hinged doors, just like our dads
old Chrysler Windsor Town and Coun-
try. Of course, our Pacicas tailgate is
power operated, and power from the
V6 engine goes to all four wheels, not
just the rear ones. But the Pacica has
the same general shape as a traditional
wagon, complete with its sedan-level
step-in and cargo-oor height.
What the Pacica has that no Chrys-
ler before it had, however, is a true
blend of both Daimler and Chrysler
parts. While more and more new mod-
els coming from Chrysler share parts
and technology with their Mercedes-
Benz cousins, this is the rst prod-
uct to reap the benets of the collec-
tive corporate parts bin: The 3.5-liter
24-valve V6 and 4-speed automatic
transmission come from the now-dis-
continued Chrysler 300M sedan, while
the 5-link, independent, load-leveling
rear suspension and brakes are pirated
from the Mercedes-Benz E-Class.
How does it all work? Well let you
know. Don Chaikin
CHEVROLET
MALIBU LS
Yes, Virginia, there still are sedans,
though admittedly theyre hard to spot
in the current automotive sea of SUVs
and pickups. In fact, of the 10 best-sell-
ing new vehicles in the country, six are
humble passenger cars. Automakers
have been quietly making great strides
in improving and rening these cars,
regardless of what price range they
sell in. To our minds, Chevrolet made
a quantum leap when the company
replaced the previous Malibu sedan
itself a ne, value-laden sedanwith
the current one.
Sharing its underpinnings with
other GM products, including the Saab
9-3, the new Malibu is impressive with
its smooth ride, crisp handling and
interior quiet. In total, the car delivers
a driving experience that we feel sets
benchmarks in its class. But, to be sure,
were going to drive the Malibu day in
and day out for a year and see if it
holds up to its good rst impression.
Now the LS in our eet is accumu-
lating break-in miles, and so far we are
still impressed. Each driver who gets
I Report number: 1
I Base price: $32,300
I As-tested price: $37,730
I Extra-cost options: Leather-trimmed
seats, heated front and rear seats,
power glass sunroof, navigation sys-
tem, power liftgate, full-size spare tire
I Drivetrain: 3.5-liter SOHC V6, 4-speed
automatic transmission, all-wheel drive
I Engine performance: 250 hp/250 ft.-lb.
I EPA fuel economy: 17 city/22 hwy
I Report number: 1
I Base price: $20,370
I As-tested price: $22,295
I Extra-cost options: Curtain-style
airbags, power drivers seat, front and
rear oor mats, XM Satellite Radio,
rear spoiler
I Drivetrain: 3.5-liter V6, 4-speed auto-
matic transmission, front-wheel drive
I Engine performance:
200 hp/220 ft.-lb.
I EPA fuel economy: 23 city/32 hwy
CHEVROLET MALIBU LS
CHRYSLER PACIFICA AWD
AUTOMOTIVE
JUNE 2004 | WWW.POPULARMECHANICS.COM 87
behind the wheel for the rst time is
surprised and delighted with the cars
road manners. Many also have been
enamored of the added bonus of XM
Satellite Radio, which serves up more
listening options than the jukebox at
Moes Tavern.
Stay tuned to see if the Malibu can
live up to its early billing. D.C.
TOYOTA SIENNA XLE
Lifes tough in the Big Appleeven if
youre sitting around doing nothing.
We went to drive our Sienna home
recently only to discover a dent and
a long scratch on the passenger side.
The shape, size, location and paint
color of the damage perfectly match-
es a section of pillar in our midtown
garage. The attendants admitted their
culpability, but well drive the van with
its scar for a while before heading to
the body shop in the rm belief that
theres more minor damage to come.
Out in the wild, our Siennas run-
at tires proved their worth when
the right rear picked up a nail and
lost enough air to trigger the tire-
pressure warning light. We regularly
check the tires with a good eyeballing,
but that periodic check with a gauge
revealed the right rear was down 12
psi. Despite the stiff sidewalls of the
run-ats, our suspicions about the
tire were triggered before we saw the
warning light when the Sienna seri-
ously oversteered while making a
sharp turn off Broadway.
These problems aside, the Sien-
na soldiered on through the winter
and spring, carrying us through sev-
eral major snowstorms and a lot of
commuting. Its sure-footedness on
slippery roads is most welcome. How-
ever, were not sure if we like the
heavy-feeling suspension, which kicks
back annoyingly through the steer-
ing wheel after any bump or jolt. But
we do appreciate its admirable for
an awd minivanfuel economy and
cruising range.
We do wish those wonderful
power-operated side doors and tail-
gate opened a wee bit more quickly
We do a lot of smiling in our STi.
Running through the gears is addictive.
I 3 (see PM 4/04, 11/03) Report number:
I 12,351 Total miles driven:
I 4334 Miles driven since last report:
I 16.9 mpg Average fuel economy:
I Worst observed fuel economy:
12.9 mpg
I Best observed fuel economy:
18.6 mpg
I Maintenance/repair costs:
Scheduled service, $60
TOYOTA SIENNA XLE AWD
88 JUNE 2004 | WWW.POPULARMECHANICS.COM
n
For more automotive features check
out the PM.Zone Web site
POPULARMECHANICS.COM/AUTO
especially in the rain when
were burdened down with
packages. Mike Allen
SUBARU WRX STi
Its easy to tell when we like
a car. Just look at the miles.
The STis been with us for a
few short months but already
weve logged 13,786 miles.
About 3000 of those miles
were amassed when we drove
the car cross-country to our
West Coast ofce. When you
spend 10 hours a day behind
the wheel you start to appre-
ciate the little thingslike
good seats. And the Subarus left our
sacroiliacs smiling from Manhattan to
Malibu. In fact, we do a lot of smil-
ing in the Subaru. Every time we slide
behind the wheel its like hitting the
reset button for a new game of Ralli-
Sport Challenge. The STis 300 hp
and 300 ft.-lb. of turbocharged torque
shove you hard into the seat from just
off idle until that upshift light glows
red. Its addicting to run this car
through the rst three gears. And the
suspension and steering are so respon-
sive, we nd ourselves taking the curvi-
est way home at least twice a week.
Unfortunately, everyone knows
what this car is. Especially in Los
Angeles. So everything from a Ford
Focus to a Porsche Carrera 4 wants
a shot at the worlds most powerful
sport compact. With all that built-in
rally-bred performance, you wouldnt
think this car would be a comfortable
commuter. Youd be wrong. But theres
no hiding the rm ride. And if there
is uneven pavement, the wide tires
will pull the steering wheel when
those massive Brembo brakes are
applied. But hey, this is a 4-door
supercar, not a Buick LeSabre. For-
tunately, when it comes to mainte-
nance and reliability, the STi is still
a Subaru. We havent had a lick of
trouble. Ben Stewart
INFINITI FX45
Parallax is a funny thing, especially
during rush hour. As you probably
remember from high-school phys-
ics, parallax is the apparent change
of position of an object when whats
really changing is the position of the
viewer. Or, in the case of the New Jer-
sey Turnpike, parallax can cause driv-
ers in two different trafc lanes to
each be absolutely positive that they
are the one in the correct lane for the
tollbooth. And thats what cost our
FX45 a few weeks of driving time and
several hundred dollars worth of
bodywork. Sufce it to say, another
tired, aggravated commuter and his
Explorer and one of our editors and
the Inniti tried to enter said toll-
booth simultaneously, each driver
certain of the right-of-way.
That mishap aside, life with our
potent, crowd-gathering crossover
has been nothing but pleasure. Unfor-
tunately, our time with it is done and
our 315-hp, all-wheel-drive FX45,
complete with its rear-vision moni-
tor, handy navigation system (which
saved our butts myriad times in con-
fusing suburban subdivisions) and
waist-high 20-in. wheels and tires,
has been returned to Inniti. While
some critics complain that the FX45
rides too harshly, we disagree. Firm,
absolutely. Objectionable? Not at all
for a vehicle with the FX45s level of
handling and performance. D.C.
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I 2 (see PM 4/04) Report number:
I 13,786 Total miles driven:
I 9071 Miles driven since last report:
I 20.6 mpg Average fuel economy:
I Worst observed fuel economy:
14.6 mpg
I Best observed fuel economy:
24.6 mpg
I Maintenance/repair costs:
Scheduled service, $84
SUBARU WRX STi
Well miss our
quirky-looking
but crowd-
gathering 315-hp
crossover.
I 4 Report number:
(see PM 4/04, 11/03, 9/03)
I 19, 831 Total miles driven:
I 3185 Miles driven since last report:
I 15.9 mpg Average fuel economy:
I Worst observed fuel economy:
14.1 mpg
I Best observed fuel economy:
18.9 mpg
I Maintenance/repair costs:
Body damage repair, $605;
scheduled service, $125
INFINITI FX45
JUNE 2004 | WWW.POPULARMECHANICS.COM 89
90 JUNE 2004 | WWW.POPULARMECHANICS.COM
Digital
Vegas
Sin City gets
pixelated as the
Photo Marketing
Association shows
its wares.
The high end of the
digital camera market is
really starting to click (ba
dum bum). The cameras
that premiered at the recent
Photo Marketing Association
convention in Las Vegas are
making it tough for lm pur-
ists to resist the temptation
of the digital surge. With an
annual growth of 15 percent
and projected sales of 53
million units this year,
PHOTOS BY DAVID WEISS
BY REBECCA DAY
TECHNOLOGY
JUNE 2004 | WWW.POPULARMECHANICS.COM 91
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PANASONIC DMC-LC1
$1599 www.panasonic.com
I 5 Megapixels:
I SD Card Media:
I 3x Optical Zoom:
OLYMPUS C-8080
WIDE ZOOM
$999 www.olympus.com
I 8 Megapixels:
I xD-Picture Card And Media:
CompactFlash
I 5x Optical Zoom:
POLAROID X530
$399 www.polaroid.com
I 4.5 Megapixels:
I SD Card Media:
I 3x Optical Zoom:
NIKON D70
$999 www.nikon.com
I 6 Megapixels:
I CompactFlash Media:
I Varies With Optical Zoom:
Optional Lens
CASIO EXILIM
PRO EX-P600
$649 www.casio.com
I 6 Megapixels:
I SD Card Media:
I 4x Optical Zoom:
o
according to market research rm
Infotrends, digital cameras have fast
overtaken lm cameras, sparking even
stalwart Kodak to pull out of the lm
camera business.
Despite the growth of the main-
stream market, which has been
spurred by consumers who enjoy
e-mailing photos and printing their
pictures at home, high-end products
have run up against limitations in per-
formance, lens options and prohibitive
prices. Until now, that is.
New products from well-known
camera brands Nikon, Olympus and
Polaroid are redening the consumer
market for digital. Joint efforts between
consumer electronics companies and
traditional camera makers are produc-
ing cameras that combine sophisticat-
ed lenses with the exibility of digital.
And thanks to partnerships like those
between Panasonic and Leica, and
Casio and Canon, photo enthusiasts
can reap the benets of digital without
sacricing the purity of lm.
Technological advances contin-
ue to improve performance of digital
cameras. Megapixel counts expand
as do optical zoom lengths. A boost in
processing power means faster startup
and shot-to-shot times. Yet, there is still
room inside for software designers to
incorporate photography tutorials.
Heres a look at ve standouts from
this seasons new lineup of digicams.
NIKON D70
The 6-megapixel D70 is the entry-level
digital SLR (single-lens reex) camera
many Nikon owners have been dying to
own. It is compatible with more than 40
Nikon AF Nikkor 35mm camera lenses
and digital DX lenses, and Nikon offers
the AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm
($300) lens as an option. The D70s DX
imaging sensor is smaller than a 35mm
frame of lm so when you use an inter-
changeable lens, theres an increase in
angle of view by 1.5 times. A telephoto
lens becomes more of a telephoto lens,
for example, and a wide-angle lens
becomes a more normal lens.
A new buffer technology enables
you to shoot 144 continuous pictures
at three pictures per second. This is a
useful feature for action photographers
who dont have time to wait while the
camera writes the image to the mem-
ory card. Nikons Digital Vari-Program
modes expand on the automatic aper-
ture and shutter speed controls typical-
ly found on lm cameras. In addition to
selecting the best combination of depth
of eld and shutter speed for portrait
or sport modes, the D70 adds digital
parameters such as color and contrast.
POLAROID X530
Digital cameras use either a CCD
(charge-coupled device) or CMOS
(complementary metal-oxide semicon-
ductor) mosaic image sensor to capture
an image. The sensors can detect only
the absence or presence of light, how-
ever, and have to rely on red, green
and blue lters for each pixel to pro-
vide color. Since each pixel is assigned
one color, the sensor has to interpolate
the colors from surrounding pixels.
Foveon, an image-capture technology
company, maintains that the interpola-
tion leads to false colors and artifacts.
Foveons alternative is the X3 image
sensor, which is used in Polaroids
X530. The sensor directly captures
full colorred, green and blueat
every point in the image. Three layers
of each color pixel capture red, green
and blue light, without interpolation.
Foveon, which Polaroid rst brought
to the consumer market, says this tech-
nology results in truer, warmer tones
and sharper images.
The fully automatic X530 shoots
640 x 480 motion video at 30 frames
per second. In still mode it stores imag-
es in JPEG and RAW le format. Using
the latter along with Polaroid Photo-
Lab software, users can make detailed
adjustments to images. The softwares
Fill Light feature lets you simulta-
neously adjust shadows and highlights
in difcult lighting situations to bring
out details in shadows without over-
exposing the rest of the image.
OLYMPUS C-8080 WIDE ZOOM
Missed your photo again because your
camera took too long to boot up? Rapid
startup is just one of the benets of the
TruePic TURBO image processor inside
the Olympus 8-megapixel C-8080.
The new processor features Olym-
puss Proper Gamma II technology,
which separates the color and lumi-
nance signals and calculates the opti-
mum gamma midtone contrast range.
The results are more faithful color
reproduction compared to earlier
cameras, and more subtle tonal gra-
dations from dark to light for better
reproduction of texture. In addition,
the processors new Spacial Frequency
lter helps retain the contrast of the
image in low-light situations such as
candlelit settings.
For those who shoot to edit in
software, the cameras large sensor
offers plenty of cutting room for both
amateur and pro photographers. With
8 million pixels, you can crop the image
in half and still go out to an 11 x 14 print
if you had to, says Sally Smith-Clem-
ens, Product Manager at Olympus. A
family might want to use a wedding or
reunion photo for a painting-size image
over the replace. With a camera that
offers this kind of resolution, she says,
you can do things like that using the
native reso lution of the camera without
having to interpolate to larger sizes.
The C-8080s digital zoom mode
extends the zoom to 15x. The 1.8-in.
LCD viewnder swivels 90 up and
45 down.
CASIO EXILIM PRO EX-P600
When Casio created its EXILIM line, the
company knew the slimline look would
T
HE latest high-end digital
cameras boast 8-megapixel
(8 million pixels) image sen-
sors, enough to reproduce a poster-
size image without loss of quality.
Thats beyond the needs of most
peopleand far too large for e-mail
but serious croppers will nd the
high resolution useful. When editing
photos, you can carve out the portion
you want and enlarge it for printing
without losing resolution.
MEGAPIXEL MADNESS?
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JUNE 2004 | WWW.POPULARMECHANICS.COM 93
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COMMEMORATIVE: Editions like
this John Wayne Coach Gun ride
center stage in display cases.
BY CHRIS CHRISTIAN PHOTOS BY SPENCER JONES
The coach gun played a critical role on the Western frontier.
Now its regaining popularity among Old West enthusiasts.
history of the American West was
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JUNE 2004 | WWW.POPULARMECHANICS.COM 95
Lesser known is the coach gun. But,
in the overall scheme of things it was
certainly as important as those other
weaponspossibly more sowhen it
came to settling the West.
PROTECTION RACKET
The term coach gun emerged in
1858 when Wells, Fargo & Co. began
regular stagecoach service from Tip-
ton, Mo., to San Francisco, Calif.
The route was 2800 miles long, and
passed through some of the most
lawless areas of the West. In addition
to carrying passengers, Wells Fargo
also had contracts for the U.S. Mail, as
well as the task of transporting gold
shipments to its banking facilities.
To say that the coaches became
a tempting target for outlaws is an
understatement. In fact, robbing stage-
coaches became a cottage industry
in some areas, and between 1870 and
1884 Wells Fargo stages were the
target of 347 robbery attempts.
Getting the stage and its valuable
cargo through was not a job for the
fainthearted, and some of the best
in the West accepted the challenge.
Among those who spent time driving
stagecoaches were Wyatt Earp, Wild
Bill Hickok, Buffalo Bill Cody and
Morgan Earp.
Riding with them was an armed
guard toting a coach gun.
This wasnt a specic make or mod-
el of rearm. It was a moniker earned
through circumstance by a generic
class of guns. These were compact,
side-by-side double-barreled shot-
guns featuring barrels in the 12- to
20-in. range to allow easy handling in
the cramped drivers box of the stage.
Virtually all featured twin triggers,
with one trigger for each barrel. Most
were equipped with external hammers,
called rabbit ears, although some
hammerless models were produced.
The 12-ga. likely was the most popu-
lar, although the 10-ga. and, to a lesser
extent, the 16-ga. were widely used.
Glamorous they were not. But they
were an ideal tool for the task.
Although repeating ries held more
rounds and had a greater range, only
EAA BOUNTY HUNTER
HUGLU ARMSCO DURANGO
STOEGER NICKEL
HUGLU ARMSCO AMARILLO
VARIETY: Coach guns are character-
ized by short barrels and a variety of
single- and twin-trigger, and exposed-
hammer and hammerless congura-
tions. They come in several gauges.
96 JUNE 2004 | WWW.POPULARMECHANICS.COM
JOHN WAYNE
in Hollywood does one score con-
sistent hits on moving targets from
the bouncing box of a feeing stage-
coach. The multiple-shot charge from
a smoothbore was far more likely to
score, and since only hits counted
in that situation, shotguns were the
choice of savvy stage guards.
There were some repeating shot-
guns available that could hold more
than the two rounds of the double
barrel, but their mechanisms were
rather delicate and not up to the rig-
ors of stage travel. That made them
less than reliable.
The sturdy little double barrels
suffered no such ills. They were virtu-
ally indestructible, and even if heav-
ily fouled they would fre as long as
shells could be rammed into the cham-
bers and the action closed.
Should fouling become
excessive, a quick wipe on the
breech face and chambers with a
shirttail would put the gun back into
action.
When it came to guarding the stage,
the coach gun reigned supreme. In
fact, the term riding shotgun is still
in common use today. But, as effec-
tive as the coach gun was, its reign
was brief.
By the late 1890s, railroads were
carrying the bulk of gold shipments.
Stage lines were in decline and provid-
ed rather meager pickings for robbers.
At the same time, smokeless powder
came into use, as did more reliable
repeating shotguns, like the 6-shot
Winchester Model 97 pump.
COACH GUN REVIVAL
Time and technology began to render
the coach gun obsolete. It might have
faded completely had it not been for the
Single Action Shooting Society (SASS).
Founded in 1985, SASS (www.sass
net.com) has almost 60,000 members
spread across all 50 states. They com-
pete in action-style frearms matches
in which multiple targets are knocked
down as quickly as possible. And they
do it with Old West frearms while
wearing period clothing.
While time and circumstance ended
the reign of the coach gun in the late
1890s, SASS rules have made it one
of the most desirable shotguns for its
competitive events. The same factors
that made the compact double bar-
rel the best tool for the job then, do so
now. And manufacturers are eager to
provide these guns.
The resurgence in popularity, how-
ever, isnt restricted to SASS competi-
tors. Once gunmakers began producing
coach guns for this enthusiast market,
other shooters rediscovered the classic
shortened double barrel.
A number of the traditional twin-
trigger/rabbit-ear models are pur-
chased by those who will never shoot
them. Simply hanging a piece of
American history on the wall, or inside
a display case, is enough for them. In
some cases, the guns may be spe-
cial-edition commemorative models,
exquisitely engraved in a custom shop.
They are produced in limited numbers
to achieve some degree of collector
value. The John Wayne Coach Gun
produced by America Remembers is
one such outstanding example.
More than a few of these shotguns
serve double duty as home-defense
frearms, and they are just as effective
in that role today as they were in their
heyday. Few criminals argue with a
double-barreled shotgun, and those
who do usually lose.
John Wayne
The sturdy little
double barrels
were virtually
indestructible.
JUNE 2004 | WWW.POPULARMECHANICS.COM 97
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Journal
PLANTERS
Garden To Go
TEXT AND PHOTOS BY NEAL BARRETT
If you like to dress up your yard or patio with seasonal owers or
small ornamental bushes, planters offer a nice addition to in-ground
landscaping. Planters give you the option of moving small shrubs or
owers around your yard, or placing them in spots that cant accommo-
date a permanent planting bed. As a bonus, they provide an attractive
architectural element to the grounds. And, if you build your own, you
can size them to suit your particular needs and tastes.
We built our planters from nominal 5/4 (1
1
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8 in. thick) and 1-in. (
3
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4 in.
thick) pine, and
3
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4-in.-thick marine-grade r plywood. Marine plywood
is made with waterproof glue so it can
stand up to moisture. If your local sup-
plier doesnt carry marine plywood,
you can order it from M.L. Condon
Co., 250 Ferris Ave., White Plains, NY
10603. To extend the life of the plant-
ers, we added metal liners made from
aluminum ashing thats common-
ly available at hardware stores and
building supply dealers.
PARTS AND JOINERY
Although we made planters in two
different sizes, the construction tech-
niques are the same for each so its
easy to modify the designs if you wish.
Begin by cutting the frame parts to
size. If youre making more than one
planter, or planters of different sizes,
98 JUNE 2004 | WWW.POPULARMECHANICS.COM
We made planters in two
sizesits easy to modify
the designs if you wish.
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sort the parts so that similar pieces are
grouped together. Then, clamp togeth-
er a group of planter stiles so that their
ends are perfectly ush and lay out the
mortises for the rail joints. Repeat the
procedure for each group of stiles and
rails. Rout the mortises with a
3
/8-in.
spiral up-cutting bit, 1 . To provide
a stable base for the router, clamp the
workpiece to a similar-size piece.
Attach a board to your table saws rip
fence, install a dado blade and adjust
the fence to cut the tenon cheeks,
2 . Then, readjust the blade height,
and hold the stock on edge to cut the
shoulders at the inside edges of the
rails and on both edges of the mullions.
Lay out the notch for the tenon haunch
at the outer edge of each rail, and use
a backsaw or dovetail saw to make the
cuts, 3 . The haunch, or shoulder, on
the tenon is necessary to ll the frames
panel groove at the ends of the stiles. It
also adds strength to the joint.
With the joints shaped, use a dado
blade to cut the panel grooves in the
edges of all frame parts, 4 . Clamp a
featherboard to the saw table to keep
the stock tight to the fence and to
reduce the risk of kickback.
Rip and crosscut plywood to size for
the planter panels. Install a straight bit
in the router table and use it to cut the
3
/8 x
9
/16-in. rabbet around the edges
of each piece on their inside faces.
Test the t of a panel in one of the rail
grooves. If it doesnt easily slide into
place, adjust the router table setup to
improve the t.
ASSEMBLY
Since these planters are designed to be
used outdoors, its best to use water-
proof glue for assembly. We used Tite-
bond II for our project, but you could
also use polyurethane glue.
Begin assembly by gluing the mul-
lions to the rails. If a planter side has
only one mullion, apply glue to the
mullion tenons and rail mortises, and
use a clamp to pull the joints tight.
Compare opposite diagonal meas-
urements to check that the assembly
is square. Next, slide the panels into
place, 5 , spread glue on the rail ten-
ons and stile mortises, and add the
stiles. Clamp the assembly until the
glue sets. For planter sides with two
mullions, slide the center panel into
position before adding the top rail to
the mullion ends.
Lay out joining-plate positions for
assembling the four sides of each
planter. Clamp a tall fence to your
worktable to support the sides that
receive slots on the stile faces, 6 . To
cut the slots in the ends of the remain-
ing sides, clamp each rmly to the
worktable, facedown, 7 .
5
After gluing the mullions to rails,
slide the plywood panels into
place. Then glue the stiles in place.
6
Clamp a tall fence to the work-
table for support when cutting
plate slots in front and back panels.
7
Clamp the planter sides to the
worktable and cut joining-plate
slots in the panel edges.
1
Use a plunge router and edge guide
to cut the mortises. Clamp a sec-
ond piece to the work for stability.
2
Clamp a board to your table saws
fence, and use a dado blade to cut
tenon cheeks on rails and mullions.
3
Cut the haunched tenon shoul-
ders with a backsaw. The other
shoulders are cut with a dado blade.
4
Use a dado blade in the table saw
to cut the panel grooves in the
edges of stiles, rails and mullions.
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To join the planter sides, spread
glue on the mating surfaces and in
plate slots. Use a shim to apply glue
to the joining plates and slide them
into the slots. Then, assemble each
planter box and use clamps to pull
the joints tight, 8 . Compare oppo-
site diagonal measurements to make
sure that each box is square, and let
the glue set for about an hour before
removing the clamps.
Cut
3
/4-in.-thick stock into 2
1
/4-in.-
square blocks for the planter feet. Use
a sanding block to bevel the edges of
each to a 10 angle, and nail the feet
to the bottom of the planter with 6d
galvanized fnishing nails. Set the nail-
heads below the wood surface and fll
the holes with a good-quality, exterior
wood fller.
Rip and crosscut
3
/4-in. stock for
the bottom support cleats. Use 1
1
/2-in.
No. 8 galvanized deck screws to fasten
the cleats to the inside of the planter, 9 .
Cut the bottom panels to size. Mark
the center of the drainage holes, then
bore the holes with a holesaw. Slide
the bottom panel into position, 10,
and fasten it to the cleats with 1
1
/2-in.
No. 8 galvanized deck screws.
PAINTING THE PLANTERS
Smooth the surfaces with 120-grit
sandpaper, taking care to ease all
sharp edges. Thoroughly remove
the sanding dust and seal all surfac-
es with a premium-quality, exterior
alkyd primer. After overnight dry-
ing, lightly sand the primed surface
to remove any roughness and, again,
remove all sanding dust. Finish the
planter by applying at least two coats
of 100 percent acrylic exterior paint,
following the manufacturers applica-
tion instructions. Make sure that you
coat the interior as thoroughly as you
do the exterior surfaces.
MAKING THE LINERS
Use a felt-tipped marker to lay out the
liner and tray parts on the aluminum
fashing stock, and cut out the pieces
with metalcutting shears. Mark the
center of the drainage holes on the
liner tray pieces and mark the bend
lines on all parts.
Use a holesaw or shears to cut the
drainage holes. Note that the holes
in the tray are slightly smaller than
those in the planter bottomthis pre-
vents water from collecting on the ply-
wood surface. To bend the aluminum,
clamp a board on each side of the met-
al with the board edges aligned with
the bend line. Then use the boards to
guide the bend, 11 .
Slide the liner inside the tray and
bore
1
/8-in.-dia. holes for blind rivets
where the liner ends overlap. Use a
wood block on the exit side of the drill
bit to support the metal when mak-
ing the holes. Install the rivets to fas-
ten the liner ends together and then
attach the liner to the tray in the same
way, 12 . If you wish, staple a piece of
fberglass screen to the bottom panel,
over the drainage holes, before install-
ing the liner to keep soil from falling
out of the planter. PM
9
Cut side cleats from
3
/4-in. pine
and attach them to the planter
sides with galvanized deck screws.
10
Use a holesaw to cut the drain-
age holes. Slide the panel in
place and secure with screws.
11
Cut the fashing to size and use
boards clamped at the bend
lines to form straight, 90 folds.
12
Use blind rivets to secure the
liner ends where they overlap
and to attach the liner to the tray.
For more home features check out the
PM.Zone Web site
POPULARMECHANICS.COM/HOME
102 JUNE 2004 | WWW.POPULARMECHANICS.COM
8
Apply glue to the mating surfaces and assemble the planter sides. Clamp
and check that the box is square.
New tool belts are like
a toolbox on your hip.
BY JOSEPH TRUINI
Hang
Tough
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F youre a typical
Popular Mechanics
reader you probably
have a well-stocked
toolbox that you use
for various home-
improvement and
repair projects. And
while a toolbox is
great for carrying
tools to the work site, it doesnt serve
much purpose once the dust starts
to y. The most efcient way to
work is to keep essen-
tial tools and sup-
plies close at hand,
and the best way
to do that is with a
tool belt.
When most peo-
ple think of a tool
belt they imagine
the typical leath-
er carpenters belt
favored by profes-
sional contractors.
But thats just one of
the many tool-toting
aprons, belts, pouches,
holsters and slings avail-
able for active do-it-your-
selfers. If youre still using an old
cloth nail apron or, worse yet, stufng
tools into your pockets, then its time to
consider a buckle-up tool belt.
Here, weve assembled a representa-
tive collection of products made from
thick cotton, supple leather and hard-
wearing DuPont Cordura Nylon. Also
included are two cleverly designed
tool vests and a beltless system with
interchangeable tool pouches.
I
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I Leather, Cordura Nylon
I Oversize Pockets
I Occidental Leather, P.O. Box 389, Graton, CA
95444; 800-743-6914
OCCIDENTAL LEATHER MODEL 8080DB
$165 www.bestbelt.com
I Ballistic Nylon
I Modular Design Permits Customization
I DeWalt, 701 E. Joppa Rd., Baltimore, MD 21286;
800-433-9258
DEWALT MODEL D5100
$80; Accessory Drill Holster, $22 www.dewalt.com
104 JUNE 2004 | WWW.POPULARMECHANICS.COM
1 Leather-Nylon
Framers Belt
Flexible leather and resilient Cordura
Nylon come together in this pro-qual-
ity modular tool belt from Occiden-
tal Leather. Its sized for carrying a
substantial quantity of fasteners and
most of the hand tools you would
need for a days work. Called the Oxy-
Lights DB Pro Framer, it has some of
the largest pockets found on any of
these products hanging from its 3-
in.-wide leather belt. The two forest
green nylon pouches are divided into
six various-size compartments, includ-
ing two oversize pockets that measure
8 in. deep x 9
1
/2 in. wide.
The OxyLights DB Pro Framer is
equipped with a tape measure pouch,
six outer pockets and six interior
pockets, which are great for organiz-
ing easy-to-lose tools such as nail-
sets, screwdrivers
and small pliers.
Because the belt is
large and capable
of carrying a sub-
stantial load, Occi-
dental makes an accessory Strong-
hold Suspension System (not shown,
Model 5055, about $75). These heavy-
duty suspenders clip onto the belt
and help distribute the
load from your hips to your
shoulders, reducing fatigue
and lower back strain.
Incidentally, this may
be your belt if youre a
stickler for buying prod-
ucts made in the
United States.
Occidental
makes its prod-
ucts here and
uses U.S.-made
premium-grade
leather, nylon and
hardware.
2 Tool Belt Set
This DeWalt professional-duty tool
belt is made from ballistic nylon, a
material so tough its used in bullet-
proof vests. Its two oversize bags are
divided into compartments. All of the
seams are double-stitched and riveted
to survive a lifetime of job-site abuse.
Plus, each widemouthed pouch is
heat-formed to maintain its shape.
The advantage of this is that you can
reach more easily into the pouch and
readily locate what you need.
All totaled, this versatile tool belt
offers seven large fastener pouches
(for nails and screws), 14 narrow tool
pockets, a steel-loop hammer holder,
and four leather sleeves to hold crow-
bars, ashlights, hammers, wrenches
and combination squares.
The DeWalt is a modular tool belt,
meaning its bags arent permanently
attached to the belt. This allows you
to slip off a bag and exchange it for
another bag or tool-holding acces-
sory. Here, the belt is shown with its
Accessory Drill Holster.
Deciding which tool belt to buy
depends on several factors including
the kind of projects you tackle, the
type of tools you use and, of course,
how much youre willing to spend. But
regardless of your skill level or budget,
were sure youll nd the perfect tool
belt for your next project.
1
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I Oil-Tanned Leather I Right/Left Steel Hammer Loops
I Sears Craftsman, Dept. 703-MAL, 3333 Beverly Rd.,
Homan Estates, IL 60179; 800-377-1565
SEARS CRAFTSMAN MODEL 40522
$50 www.craftsman.com
BEYOND THE BASIC BELT
Tool Vest
The Skillers Tool Vest is a com-
fortable, zippered vest made of
nylon-reinforced cotton duck
(Model 4205-12, about $50). The
vests right side has a large
snap-closed upper pocket,
two small tool pockets and
a 4-in.-deep x 5
1
/
2-in.-wide
fastener pouch. Four more
pockets and a fastener
pouch can be found on
the left side.
Hanging from the bot-
tom of the vest are four
large 7 x 7-in. sewn-on
pouches, two in the front
and two in the back.
There are also two Velcro-
lined straps for attaching
other Skillers accesso-
ries, such as a drill hol-
ster or nail pouch.
Flexi System
A slightly dierent take on the vest
is Viios clever Skillers Flexi System,
which consists of more than a dozen
dierent harnesses, vests, pouches
and bags that you can mix and
match to create a customized tool
carrier. Here, the Skillers Yoke
(Model 9712, about $30) is shown
with the Ergo Belt (Model 9702,
about $20). The Yoke has two
large pockets, eight narrow
pockets and two small fastener
pouches. Its four adjustable
nylon straps and thickly padded
shoulder straps ensure a com-
fortable, snug t. The nylon belt
is outtted with a Power Tool Holster
(Model 9711, about $16) and a Hammer
Holder (Model 9082, about $6).
Contact Skillers Workwear, 299-A
Washington St., Woburn, MA 01801;
800-325-8707; www.skillers.com.
B
ACK in 1975, Swedish electrician Matti Viio was frustrated that he couldnt nd
comfortable work clothes that also were compatible with his need to carry lots of
tools. So, he designed his own line of workwear based on the demanding needs of
professional tradesmen. Today, his company, Skillers Workwear, oers a broad range of
innovative, well-made garment-tool carriers.
3 Oil-Tanned
Leather Tool Belt
A leather tool belt usually takes
awhile to soften up and lose its stiff-
ness. Thats not the case with this
Sears Craftsman belt. Its made from
oil-tanned leather thats soft and sup-
ple the rst time you use it. Its an all-
leather tool carrier with permanently
xed pouches, which are steel-riveted
and double-stitched to the 2-in.-wide
leather belt. There are two extra-large,
8-in.-deep tool pouches and two 4-in.-
deep fastener pouches.
The belt is also equipped with two
steel-loop hammer holders to satisfy
both right- and lefthanded users, six
narrow leather pockets for storing
drill bits and pencils, a tape measure
pouch that has a snap-down strap,
and a steel sheath that accepts a com-
bination square.
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The most
ef cient way to
work is to keep
essential tools
and supplies
close at hand.
4
4 Suspender
Tool Carrier
This product from Occiden-
tal Leather is not a belt in
the conventional sense but
a suspender-mounted system
of large clip-on pouches.
Made of durable Cor-
dura Nylon, this innovative
design allows complete
freedom of movement. It
enables you to more eas-
ily bend or squat without
dumping tools and fasten-
ers out of the pouches. Along with the
increased mobility comes improved
comfort because the system transfers
the load from your hips to your shoul-
ders. And its one of the few tool carri-
ers that can be comfortably worn over
a work coat or insulated coveralls.
The system features more than
30 pockets and tool holders. On
the right side, youll fnd eight tool
pockets, two steel-loop hammer
holders, a giant 9 x 10-in. fastener
pouch, a 6 x 6-in. outer pouch, two
narrow leather pockets and a leather
sheath for a combination square.
The left side has eight small tool
pockets, a 5 x 5-in. fastener pouch, a
large leather sheath that will hold a
framing square, two narrow leather
pockets and a smaller leather sheath
for a combination square. The Oxy
Tool Chest weighs about 5
1
/2 pounds
when empty. Thats a lot of weight,
but there are times when you need a
lot of carrying capacity.
OCCIDENTAL LEATHER MODEL 2008
$200 www.bestbelt.com
Leather, Cordura Nylon
Suspender-Hung Clip-On Pouches
Occidental Leather, P.O. Box 389, Graton, CA
95444; 800-743-6914
5 Canvas Apron
The old-fashioned canvas nail apron
is a good idea because its lightweight
and perfect for those jobs when you
dont have to carry everything includ-
ing the kitchen sink. The problem
with canvas aprons, as anyone who
has ever worn one can tell you, is that
their drawstrings often wear through
and break. The drawstrings also do not
do a particularly good job of distribut-
ing the weight of nails and a hammer,
not to mention other tools. A few years
ago, the clever folks at Bucket Boss
decided to improve on the canvas nail
apron. The result of their efforts pro-
duced the Super Waist Apron. This
inexpensive lightweight tool tote is
sewn from 12-ounce cotton duck, a
material thats soft and comfortable,
yet tough enough to withstand many
years of use.
The apron has eight small inner
tool pockets, fve large outer fastener
pockets and two nylon hammer loops.
Its adjustable, 1-in.-wide nylon belt is
ftted with a snap-lock, quick-release
buckle, so there are no strings to tie.
This 9-in.-wide x 24-in.-long apron
is ideal for active homeowners who
enjoy tackling small projects around
the house, workshop and garden. PM
12-oz. Cotton Duck Canvas
13 Pockets And Two Hammer Loops
Bucket Boss, Fiskars Corp., 305 84th Ave. S.,
Wausau, WI 54401; 800-289-8288
BUCKET BOSS MODEL 83100
$15 www.bucketboss.com
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WESTINGHOUSE
LED
Brighter, better light bulbs. BY ROY BERENDSOHN
E
The Bright Stu
SPEED OF LIGHT
Until recently, getting three dis-
tinctly different light levels
from a CFL was a problem.
Technical Consumer
Products (TCP) offers
a spring lamp (a CFL
shaped like a spring)
that can replace a 50/
100/150-watt incan-
descent bulb. The
bulb lasts for 10,000
hours and costs about
$15. A dimmable version
of the bulb, not shown,
costs about $17.
Both are sold at
home centers. Con-
tact Technical Consum-
er Products, 300 Lena Dr.,
Aurora, OH 44202; 800-
324-1496; www.tcpi.com.
Cathedral ceilings are
nothing new, but they are
more widely used in new
constructionalong with
light xtures that are hard
to reach. Philips houses a
spring-shaped CFL inside a
reector oodlamp globe
designed for these xtures.
The 16-watt lamp is
rated for 7000 hours,
or about ve years
worth of use. That should reduce your
bulb-changing trips up and down a
ladder. Also, it is UL-listed for wet
locations, so it can be used outdoors.
It costs $8 to $10 at hardware stores
and home centers. Contact Philips
Lighting, 200 Franklin Square Dr.,
Somerset, NJ 08875; www.lighting
.philips.com.
THE NEW LIGHT: LED
Light-emitting diodes have been used
for years in electronic products
but not for general lighting.
Westinghouse says it is the
rst to break that barrier
with its product, which
uses a proprietary cone-
shaped plastic lens inside
the globe-shaped outer
lens to give its LED bulb
a pleasing light. It says
the 20-watt
bulb pro-
duces light
output equal to a 100-watt incan-
descent. The company projects
the bulbs life as being about
80,000 hours. At press
time, its price was esti-
mated at $40. Contact
Westinghouse Light-
ing, 12401 McNul-
ty Rd., Philadelphia,
PA 19154; 800-999-2226; www
.westinghouse
lighting.com.
Finally,
if you need
under-cabinet
lighting, you might
consider General
Elec trics Gelcore
LED strip. The exi-
ble strip has an adhe-
sive backing and ve white LEDs. The
low-voltage transformer has a 6-ft.
cord, so you can plug it into a nearby
outlet. A cord-mounted rotary switch
controls the lights. This product costs
about $25 at Wal-Mart. Contact Gel-
core, 6180 Halle Dr.,Valley View, OH
44125; www.gelcore.com. PM
VEN in this high-technology age,
theres no question that the incandes-
cent bulb is the residential lighting
workhorse. Simple and inexpensive,
it remains little changed from the
tungsten-lament model developed
in 1910. And thats the prob-
lem. Electrically speaking,
its the product of a bygone
era. By some estimates,
only 4 to 6 percent of the
electricity supplied to an
incandescent bulb produc-
es visible light. The rest
produces heat. Thats why
the incandescent bulb is
steadily being replaced by
the long-lasting and elec-
trically efcient compact
uorescent lamp (CFL). A
CFL can last anywhere from
6000 to 10,000 hours, with some
manufacturers citing models
designed for 20,000 hoursor
the equivalent of ve to 15 years
under normal use. A good-quality
incandescent lasts about 1000 hours.
A CFL costs between $5 and $10, how-
ever, while an incandescent costs from
35 cents to $2, depending on wattage
and other factors. Still, bulb manu-
facturers estimate that a CFL will pay
for itself in a year or two. Here are the
latest replacement options for your old
incandescent bulbs.
TCP 3-way
spring lamp
GE Gelcore
under-cabinet
light
PHILIPS
CFL reector
oodlamp
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COMPOSITE
PORCH FLOORING
SABRE SAW
SYNTHETIC ROOF
LOOKS LIKE CEDAR
Build Up
The 15 best picks from the
Builders Show. BY ROY BERENDSOHN
BOSCH $170
A saw is only as good as its ability to stay
on the cutline. Boschs 1590EVSK grips its
T-shank blades with a 3-point blade holder
and a second lower clamp to prevent the
blade from wandering. Toolfree blade
changes, a soft start, and electronics that
monitor the load on the 6.4-amp motor
and adjust its output are among the saws
industrial features. Four orbital settings
adjust the saws cutting aggressiveness.
Its available at hardware stores and home
centers. Contact Bosch Power Tools, 4300
W. Peterson Ave., Chicago, IL 60646; 877-
267-2499. www.boschtools.com
THE International Builders Show
is not your typical trade show. Not
by a long shot. One side is gritty and
tough, like the rough-and-tumble
world of construction. The other side
is glamorous, perhaps even chica
world where money is no object. We
tend to gravitate toward the gritty
end of the spectrum, but theres no
denying that the fancy thingslike
doors, windows, appliances and bath
fxtures that cost thousands of dol-
larshave their own unique fascina-
tion. Heres the report of the shows
best products and an evenhanded
look at both sides of the show.
ENVIROSHAKE $375 (100 SQ. FT.)
The Enviroshake looks like a No. 1 grade taper-sawn cedar roof,
but its 95 percent recycled materials. To be more specifc, its
molded from plastic, fbers and tire-derived rubber. It starts out as a
brown-gray and weathers to the same silver-gray color of cedar shingles
after a couple of years. The product can be installed over plywood or skip sheathing,
and is fastened with ordinary roofng nails. Note that pricing varies widely depend-
ing on region. Contact Wellington Polymer Technology, 650 Riverview Dr., Unit 5,
P.O. Box 1462, Chatham, Ontario, Canada N7M 5W8. www.enviroshake.com
TENDURA $6.50 (SQ. FT.)
It used to be that porch foors had to be
painted. No more. Tendura 1 x 4 composite
porch fooring is solid gray throughout
its thickness, so youll never get wear
marks in high-traf c areas. Its made from
recycled plastic resin and sawdust. It locks
together with tongue-and-groove joints
fastened with stainless steel ring-shank
nails driven through predrilled holes.
For a distributor, contact Tendura, 1220 S.
Brundidge St., P.O. Box 827, Troy, AL 36081;
800-836-3872. www.tendura.com
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DUAL-MODE
CLOTHES DRYER
WINDOW WITH
HIDDEN JAMB LINER
DUAL-FUEL RANGE
BOSCH $1800
Maximum cooking capability for the money is what the 30-in. Bosch free-stand-
ing dual-fuel range is all about. This appliance has a continuous grate over its
four gas burners (5500 to 15,000 BTU) and a broiler element and convection oven
below. A telescoping full-extension oven rack and two standard racks that can be
set at six positions let you put the food just where it needs to cook. The stove is
available in black, white and stainless steel at appliance dealers. Contact Bosch
Home Appliances, 5551 McFadden Ave., Huntington Beach, CA 92646; 800-921-9622.
www.boschappliances.com
MAYTAG $1200-$1500
Maytags Neptune Drying Center combines
a tumble dryer with an upper drying
cabinet for garments that need a gentle
touch. You can hang nine garments on a
rod that sways back and forth as warm air
blows through the cabinet, or you can lay
fve garments on removable mesh shelves.
Hooks on the cabinets doors provide a
place for you to hang small items. Below
the cabinet is a 7-cu.-ft. tumble dryer. It is
sold at appliance dealers. Contact Maytag,
403 W. Fourth St. N., Newton, IA 50208.
www.maytag.com
KOLBE & KOLBE $600 (starting price)
An ugly jamb liner detracts from a
windows beauty. Thats why Kolbe &
Kolbe did away with a visible jamb liner
on its Sterling series. The liner, block-and-
tackle balances and all vinyl components
are blissfully out of sight. The windows
dual-position lever locks the two sash and
unlocks the window, permitting tilt clean-
ing. To fnd a dealer, contact Kolbe & Kolbe
Millwork, 1323 S. 11th Ave., Wausau, WI
54401. www.kolbe-kolbe.com
JUNE 2004 | WWW.POPULARMECHANICS.COM 113
MILWAUKEE $160-$200
Is the
3
/
8-in. drill obsolete? Milwaukees Compact
Series 14.4-volt tool is the size of a
3
/
8-in. drill
but packs a
1
/
2-in. chuck, 19 clutch positions and
two speed ranges. It comes with two batteries
and a charger that works on 9.6-volt through
18-volt batteries. Its gimbal-like device,
called a Clip-Lok, enables you to secure
the drill to your belt while permitting
full movement of the tool. It includes
a carrying case, and is sold at hard-
ware stores and home centers. Contact
Milwaukee Electric Tool, 13135 W. Lisbon
Rd., Brookfeld, WI 53005; 800-729-3878.
www.milwaukeetool.com
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WATER-CONSERVING
TOILET
RETROFIT FAUCET
HEAT-RECOVERY
GAS FIREPLACE
HIGH-POWERED 9.6-VOLT DRILL
MOEN $150-$250
What do you do when you have a 3-hole sink and you want to use a single-lever
faucet? Answer: Install the Moen Monticello. The latest addition to the Monticello
line is designed for retroftting 3-hole sinks. It uses a washerless cartridge and a
simplifed drop-in installation. Its available in a range of fnishes from polished
chrome to brushed platinum. Contact Moen, 25300 Al Moen Dr., North Olmsted,
OH 44070. www.moen.com
HEATILATOR
$5000-$6000 (INSTALLED)
Heatilators FreshAir gas freplace uses an
aluminum-core heat-recovery ventilator to
reclaim the heat in the combustion waste
gas. Then it power vents the gas outside.
That way you have a nice, clean gas fre
that heats living areas without combus-
tion byproducts entering the space. Neat
trick. The freplace is available with either
a glass front or an open front. To fnd a
dealer, contact Heatilator, 1915 W. Saunders
St., Mount Pleasant, IA 52641; 877-427-8368.
www.freshairfreplace.com
KOHLER $270
Kohlers Cimarron uses only 1.4 gal. of
water per fush. But it gets the job done
without clogging by using a 3
1
/
4-in.-dia.
fush valve and a 2
1
/
8-in.-dia. trapway that
is fully glazed for maximum smoothness.
Also, its Drylock system does away with
the bolt holes through the tank. Instead, a
pair of
1
/
2-in. bolts are engaged on a gasket-
sealed bracket on the tank bottom. Set the
tank on the bowl, then tighten the bolts.
The Cimarron is sold at plumbing supply
houses. For more information, contact
Kohler Co., Kohler, WI 53044; 800-456-4537.
www.kohler.com
HITACHI $80
Hitachis DS9DVF is petite, but it packs a punch. The 9.6-volt tool weighs only
3.2 pounds but is rated to drill through
3
/
8-in.-thick steel. Its
3
/
8-in. keyless chuck
is backed by a 22-position clutch and two speed ranges: 0 to 280 rpm and 0 to
840 rpm. Included are seven bits, two batteries, a charger, a carrying case and
a fashlight. Contact Hitachi, 3950 Steve Reynolds Blvd., Norcross, GA 30093.
www.hitachi.com
114 JUNE 2004 | WWW.POPULARMECHANICS.COM
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PHOTOVOLTAIC ROOFING
PANELIZED
TILE FLOOR
COMPOSITE
RAILING SYSTEM
EDGE FLOORING $3.50-$7 (SQ. FT.)
A free-oating tile oor was impossible
until this product. It uses ceramic or stone
tiles attached to snap-together panels. You
roll out its underlayment sheet, snap the
panels in place, then seal the joints with
grout from a pressurized can. The manu-
facturer also supplies a special tile-cutting
circular saw blade. The underlayment
costs $15 per 30-sq.-ft. roll, and the grout is
$10 per can (enough for 20 to 40 sq. ft.). The
saw blade is about $30. The ooring is sold
exclusively at Lowes Home Improvement
Centers. For information, visit your local
store or contact Edge Flooring, 200
Howell Dr., Dalton, GA 30721; 866-914-3343.
www.edgeooring.com
Water should consist of two parts hydro-
gen, one part oxygen and nothing else. The
Purefecta Drinking Water Purier delivers
that by taking out everything from com-
mon chemicals to viruses. Water passes
through its prelter, a reverse-osmosis
membrane, a virus-removing lter, a car-
bon post-lter and a bacteria-removing
post-lter. After 500 gal., the system is
ushed by the installing dealer and lters
are replaced ($300 to $400). Its sold at
Kinetico dealers. Contact Kinetico, 10845
Kinsman Rd., Newbury, OH 44065; 800-
944-9283. www.kinetico.com PM
ATLANTIS ENERGY SYSTEMS $12,000 (100 SQ. FT.)
Sunslates are ber-cement roong slates with a unique dierence: They generate
electricity. The photovoltaic panels glued to each slate create direct current, which is
fed to an inverter that produces 120-volt alternating current for residential applianc-
es and lighting circuits. The slates are hung from the roof with stainless steel fasten-
ers and are designed to withstand snow loads and 120-mph winds. A completed roof
looks like an ordinary slate roof when seen from the ground. A typical residential
installation requires 300 sq. ft. of the slates and costs roughly $36,000. The system
provides 60 to 80 percent of a houses electrical needs. Contact Atlantis Energy
Systems, 9275 Beatty Dr., Suite B, Sacramento, CA 95820. www.atlantisenergy.org
TIMBERTECH $25-$35 (LINEAR FT.)
Mix sawdust and plastic resin and you
have the beginning of a great railing
system. Whitesand composite railing is
assembled from 6- and 8-ft. lengths of top
and bottom rails with precut balusters.
The railings smooth top surface, combined
with the highly reective pigments that
give it color, provides a secure grip thats
comfortable to hold even in hot weather.
You can purchase the railing at lumber-
yards and home centers. For more infor-
mation, contact TimberTech, 894 Prairie
Ave., Wilmington, OH 45177; 800-307-7780.
www.timbertech.com
ULTRAPURE WATER FILTER
JUNE 2004 | WWW.POPULARMECHANICS.COM 115
PUREFECTA $1700-$1900 (INSTALLED)
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REVIEW
Clogged
Faucet Aerator
The aerators on my faucets get
clogged by tiny, light green gran-
ules. To fnd the cause, I ran just
cold water and checked the aera-
tors. They were clean. The same
test with hot water revealed the
granules, so the problem must be
with my water heater. What is it?
BOB SCHULTZ
Beach Haven Gardens, NJ
If the water supplied to your house
has a relatively high pH (8-plus), the
problem may be caused by a chemical
reaction between the water and the
aluminum anode in your water heater.
The reaction causes excessive amounts
of aluminum hydroxide to form on the
anode and in the bottom of the tank.
Aluminum hydroxide takes the form of
green, blue or gray granules.
To correct the problem you need to
fush the tank and replace the alumi-
num anode with a magnesium anode.
Depending on the heaters age and
the cost of replacing the anode, it may
pay to replace the entire water heater
with one that has a magnesium anode.
You can tell whether the water heat-
er has an aluminum or a magnesium
anode by looking at the anodes top.
An aluminum anode has a smooth
top, whereas a magnesium anode has
a welded bead on its top.
Replacement water-heater anodes
are sold at home centers, plumbing
supply houses and through Web-based
retailers.
Metal Roofing
Over Shingles
We want to cover our fberglass-
shingled roof with metal. Will we
need to place anything between
the metal and the old shingles?
Which are best: ring-shank nails
or screws? Everyone we ask has a
diferent opinion.
GLEN LAKNER
Wall, SD
First check with your municipal build-
ing department to see if you will need
a building permit. Also ask whether
you are required to remove the exist-
ing roofng before installing the new
roofng.
If you dont have to remove the shin-
gles, you should put 30-pound roofng
felt over them prior to installing the
TELLTALE SIGN: Water with a high
pH may react with a water heaters
aluminum anode and produce a cor-
rosion byproduct, aluminum hydrox-
ide, that can clog faucet aerators.
ALUMINUM
ANODE ROD
Clogged Aerator,
Metal Roofng,
Garage Slab,
Woodpeckers
The answers to your tough
home improvement questions.
BY NORMAN BECKER, P.E.
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MAGNESIUM
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HIS 137-page book shines a bright light into
the hidden recesses of a house. In 20 years
of writing this column and in performing
thousands of home inspections, PMs dauntless
Contributing Editor Norman Becker has seen it all,
including a huge snake slithering through a dark
attic. Beckers latest book takes you on a tour of base-
ments and attics, under sinks, inside walls, through
mushy backyards, under decks and behind ancient,
cranky boilers. Would you know where to run your hand along
the belly of a basement oil tank to fnd leaking fuel oil? Becker shows
you exactly where to look. The book costs about $13 at bookstores. For more
information, contact The McGraw-Hill Cos., 2 Penn Plaza, New York, NY
10121; www.books.mcgraw-hill.com. Roy Berendsohn
116 JUNE 2004 | WWW.POPULARMECHANICS.COM
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SERVICE TIP WOODWORKING
Bench Height Basics
P
EOPLE often build furniture using plans with dimensions that are
based on the height of the average person. A table that is 30 in. tall will
be at a comfortable height for most people when seated. Workbenches,
however, are a dierent matter. You may spend several
hours at a workbench, so theres no
sense in building one that may not
suit you. A good way to determine
the height of a workbench is to stand
with your arms straight at your
sides and with your hands
turned palms down. The dis-
tance from your palms to the
oor is a good starting dimen-
sion. You may nd that exact
height to be ideal, or within a
few inches plus or minus. The
important thing is to determine a
height thats right for you. R.B.
metal roong. This will protect the
underside of the metal from being
scratched by the rough shingles. If the
underside of the roong is scratched,
it can rust.
When installing metal roong, I
prefer screws to ring-shank nails. You
can get a tighter seal with screws and
they are less likely to back out. Never-
theless, its more important to fol-
low the manufacturers installation
instructions. Otherwise, you will void
the warranty.
You didnt indicate which type of
metal roof covering you are consider-
ing. There are many styles. One com-
pany that carries a wide selection is
Metal Roong Wholesalers at 877-
646-6382; www.metalroongwhole
salers.com. The company is also a
good source of general information
on metal roong.
Covering Garage
Floor Slab
What would you recommend as a
surface covering for a garage oor?
I have used oil-based paint and
an epoxy coating, both of which
blistered and peeled.
JEFF MOORE
Jemez Springs, NM
A number of things can cause a garage
oor coating to peel. One is improp-
er surface preparation. It is difcult
to adequately clean a garage oor
because dirt and grease are ground
into the concrete. You might consider
Safe N Easy Oil and Grease Remove, a
new cleaner specically formulated for
this task. Made by Dumond Chemicals,
it costs about $20 per gallon at hard-
ware stores and home centers. If you
cant nd it locally, you can buy it on
the Web at www.paintremoval.com.
The problem may have been caused
by subslab moisture. You can check
for this by taping a 12 x 12-in. plas-
tic sheet to the oor. Tape the edges
with duct tape, and allow it to remain
in place for 24 hours. If water drop-
lets appear on the inside of the plastic
or if the concrete appears wet, there is
moisture in the concrete and the oor
should not be coated. This is because
subslab ground moisture will work its
way to the slab surface and lift the
coating from it. In this case, your best
bet is to remove the coating from the
oor using a chemical paint stripper.
Then, clean the oor with a commer-
cial masonry cleaner or by high-pres-
sure washing (or both). When the
oor is dry, apply a masonry stain.
The stain allows moisture vapor to I
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JUNE 2004 | WWW.POPULARMECHANICS.COM
(Please turn to page 120)
Spirals can use less than half the floor-space of a traditional stair!
*
Free up valuable square footage with a space-saving
spiral stair kit from The Iron Shop, in metal, oak,
Victorian inspired cast-aluminum, or custom all-welded
metal units. The Iron Shops spiral stairs start at only
$425 and are available in diameters ranging from
3'6" to 7'0", spanning almost any height.
Since 1931, The Iron Shop has enjoyed a reputation
for outstanding design and fabrication of spiral stairs.
Today, by utilizing computer-aided technology throughout
our production process we guarantee that each stair
meets only the highest standards successfully mixing
state-of-the-art manufacturing with Old World quality.
Call for the FREE color Catalog & Price List:
1-800-523-7427Ask for Ext. PM
or visit our Web Site at www.TheIronShop.com/PM
Main Plant & Showroom: Dept. PM, P.O. Box 547, 400 Reed Road, Broomall, PA 19008
Showrooms / Warehouses: Ontario, CA Sarasota, FL Houston, TX Chicago, IL Stamford, CT
2003 The Iron Shop
*Calculations are based on the floor-space requirement of
The Iron Shops 3'-6" diameter metal spiral stair kit versus
the required floor-space of a traditional 42 straight
stair, spanning a typical 9'0" floor-to-floor height.
NASCAR
100th Anniversary,
we are offering
3 FREE Booklets.
To celebrate
the Minwax
100th Anniversary,
we are offering
3 FREE Booklets.
(While supplies last)
Minwax Bruce Johnsons Guide
to Wood Finishing
A 24-page booklet written
by noted author /craftsman
Bruce Johnson, it provides useful
information on the preparation,
staining, protection, and
maintenance steps to make and
keep wood beautiful.
Minwax Easy
Weekend Projects
This attractive 12-page
guide contains easy
wood nishing and
home decorating
projects you can do
in a weekend.
Great products
and promotional offers
from PM advertisers
Look for it in a city near you!
Stop by for product demonstrations, enter contests to win great stuff, and pick
up a free goodie bag full of samples and coupons from our sponsors.
DATE VENUE LOCATION
5/15/2 Air and Sea Show Ft. Lauderdale, FL
6/11 6/13 NASCAR/Pocono 500 Long Pond, PA
6/246/26 Milwaukee Mile/Busch Series Race West Allis, WI
7/167/17 NASCAR/Craftsman Truck Series Madison, IL
7/278/2 Oshkosh Air Show Oshkosh, WI
10/1510/17 Miramar Air Show San Diego, CA
Go RVing
Starting at about $4,000, a new RV can help you go where you want, when you
want. And if youve seen a recent-model, you know that many RVs offer optional
state-of-the-art amenities: at-screen TVs, slide-out rooms and spacious full bath-
rooms. If you dont currently own, youll be glad to know that rental units are widely
available. For a free CD-ROM or video, call 1-888-Go RVing or visit GoRVing.com.
Pursue your passions. Go RVing.
Smart Battery Charger
The Smart Battery Charger (VEC1088A) from Vector
Manufacturing, Ltd., utilizes 3-stage Pure DC Output charging to
charge batteries in a safer, more efcient method. These UL-listed,
high-frequency chargers charge up to two to three times faster
than conventional chargers, and have eight models in the line
ranging from the 2 amp. maintenance charger to the
professional grade 40/100 amp. engine start model. With
a built-in digital display, battery diagnostics, alternator
check and a 5-Year Limited Warranty, Vectors Smart
Battery Chargers deliver the quality, innovation and
affordability that todays consumer demands. Retail
price starts at $50.00. www.vectormfg.com.
e
e
Care Car
LETS DO THE TWIST
I screwed up. I wanted to bleed the brakes on my old pickup but I broke
off the bleeder bolt ush with the caliper casting. I tried to drill out the
old bolt nub and install a HeliCoil in the hole. Now it leaksbadly. How
can I x this? Teon tape didnt help. Jim Tucona, Via Internet
R
ULE One: Never use Teflon
tape on any brake tting. It
wont help and might screw
something up. (Think about little
pieces of tape inside the ABS control-
ler holding the poppet valves off their
seats. The ABS controller cant deal
with even the tiniest internal leak.)
Best solution: Buy a rebuilt caliper
at the auto parts store. If you have a
classic or rare vehicle and no replace-
ment caliper is available, you might
try to x it properly. The bleeder bolt
seals at the tapered seat at the base
of the hole, not along the threads,
so Teon tape cant possibly be effec-
tive. If you managed to get the Heli-
Coil installed correctly, you probably
damaged the seat at the bottom of the
bore with your drill bit, making a good
seal impossible. Get a repair tting.
This will have tapered pipe threads on
the caliper side and a proper bleeder
bolt drilling on the outside. Remove
the caliper and pull out the piston(s).
Drill and tap the caliper casting for
pipe threads, then carefully clean it
to remove any debris from the drill-
ing and tapping operation. Thread in
the repair tting, rebuild the caliper
with new seals, and install and bleed
it normally.
I predict that the repair tting and
the rebuild kit will cost about as much
as a rebuilt caliper, which is why I sug-
gest just replacing it if at all possible.
By the way, if you bleed your brakes I
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CALIPER
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REPAIR FITTING
AUTO CLINIC
BY MIKE ALLEN
JUNE 2004 | WWW.POPULARMECHANICS.COM 123
n
every year or so, the bleeder bolts
probably wont seize and break off.
Spongy Bob
I bought a new 04 GMC pickup
recently. I feel there is a problem
with the brakes. The pedal is very
spongy. And, when Im in gear
with the engine running, it doesnt
take much pressure to depress the
brake pedal all the way to what
feels like a mechanical stop. The
dealers service department tells
me this is normal. I suspect a
defective vacuum booster or soft
exible lines. Mind you, the truck
stops okay, but the pedal travel
really seems excessive.
BOB SKOGLUND
Via Internet
GM brakes are notorious for that
spongy feeling. First off, if the master
cylinder is bottoming out (if thats the
CAR CARE TIP
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HE neighbor wanted to bor-
row a battery terminal puller
to reset his Check Engine
light. This set o some red ags, so
I asked what in tarna-
tion for. His plan was
to remove the battery
leads and clamp them
together for an hour
or so to remove the
codes and turn o the
light. He wanted to be
sure his car passed
the state inspection
the next morning. He
felt it would give his
car a fresh start.
Wrong, at least partly. Yes, this
probably will turn o the Check
Engine light, at least for a while. But
his late-model car uses OBD IIthe
auto industrys latest diagnostic
software. It might not have volatile
memory that would be erased by
disconnecting the battery. Plus, it
takes a while, sometimes as long
as an hour of normal
driving, for the engine
management computer
to relearn its new trim
settings for fuel and
sparkso the car might
have run poorly enough
to fail if he had it tested
rst thing in the morn-
ing. Moreover, this
technique will destroy
all the radio presets, the
date and time on the dash, the seat
and mirror memory, the antitheft
codes in the stereo, and maybe the
codes in the keyless entry. I
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mechanical stop youre feeling), you
stand the chance of damaging it inter-
nally. Insist that the service manager
let you drive at least two other 2004
trucks to compare. If those trucks
have better-feeling brakes, hell have
to take corrective action. Have him
frst perform a thorough brake bleed
according to the service manual pro-
cedures. This may involve using an
ABS tester to cycle the valves in the
ABS pump to purge any hidden air.
Bleeding ABS systems is not triv ial.
The traditional pump the pedal,
hold it down, open the bleeder, close
the bleeder and pump some more
litany wont always collect the last bit
of air lurking inside the ABS pump.
Pressure-bleeding the system may only
froth up the entrained air into foam
that will be impossible to bleed by any
means, so its important to follow the
factory manual recommendation.
If this procedure doesnt give you
good pedal feel and appropriate travel,
look for a misadjusted brake pushrod
or a cranky vacuum booster.
Still stepping on a sponge? Upgrade
to Tefon-lined braided stainless steel,
fexible lines. Easy, but certainly not
cheap. But it will help a lot. PM
SERVICE TIPS
Cant put enough fuel into your
2003 Infniti FX35 or FX45 to make
the gauge read F? The Sub Fuel
Sending assembly may need to be
replaced to make the gauge read
correctly. Technical Service Bulletin
(TSB) EL03-046.
Got whistling in the front of your
2002-03 Chevy or GMC full-size van
that abates when you turn the wheel
slightly to either side? TSB 03-02-32-
047 says its coming from the power
steering gearbox. The problem
is interaction with the fuid fow
through the pressure port at the pop-
pet valve. The TSB suggests adding
an adapter and O-ring to the high-
pressure line to eliminate the noise.
A loose foam block in the HVAC
plenum of 2003-04 Saturn Ions
may block the drainhole and cause
water to spill into the cars interior,
according to TSB 03-01-38-020. Easy
fx? Not. Due to its buried location,
removing the foam block is a dif -
cult, time-consuming procedure.
Do You Have A Car Problem?
Just ask Mike about it. Send your questions
to Auto Clinic, Popular Mechanics, 810 Seventh
Ave., New York, NY 10019. While letters, faxes,
phone calls or e-mail cannot be answered
individually, problems of general interest will
be discussed in the column.
www.id-usa.com
If you can do this, you can do this.
Recharging your A/C is easy with
Bring back the cool to your vehicles A/C in minutes!
No special tools or skill needed
Do it yourself and save $$$!
Is your cars air conditioning blowing hot air?
Dont sweat it.
If you can do this, you can do this.
Is your cars air conditioning blowing hot air?
Dont sweat it.
Care Car
SATURDAY MECHANIC
BY BOB FREUDENBERG
Curing Steering Wander
Y
OURE almost enjoying a
long drive on a nice, at inter-
state. Almost, because its
windy and you need to saw the steer-
ing wheel back and forth, tacking like
a sailboat, to stay in your lane. That is,
until you make a short rest stop and
realize that theres no wind whatso-
ever. The kids in the back seat are
screaming for Dramamine, and youre
fatigued after only an hour of driving.
Theres no doubt about ityou def-
initely have some steering issues.
VEHICLE-TO-PAVEMENT
INTERFACE
Before you start thinking about expen-
sive repairs, make sure the basic vehi-
cle-to-road interface is okay, meaning
the tires. First, check ination pres-
sures. (Dont trust the gauge on the
quarter-eating pump at the local sta-
tionthose are often off by as much
as 5 pounds. Drop 10 bucks on a good
gauge and keep it in your glovebox.)
You should check your tire pressures
once a month. And thats rst thing in
the morning, cold. The correct pres-
sure is on a stickercheck your own-
ers manual for its exact location. A
low tire on one side will make a car
pull in that direction. This is because
its rolling diameter will be smaller
than that of its mate on the other side.
Also, therell be more tread-to-pave-
ment drag on the low side, pulling the
car in that direction.
DETERIORATED
RUBBER
DISCS
126 JUNE 2004 | WWW.POPULARMECHANICS.COM
LOST MOTION: A deteriorated rag joint
disc can cause slop in the steering.
STEERING
COLUMN
STEERING
BOX
(Please turn to page 128)
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DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY
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866-567-7226 (866-567-SCAN) www.autoscanner.com/pm
Actron AutoScanner available at Advance Auto Parts, AutoZone, Murrays, NAPA, Pep Boys, Sears,
Strauss Discount Auto, J.C. Whitney, and other fine automotive supply stores.
$169
99
msrp
starting at
Yourcar is trying to tell you something.
Actron speaks its language.
Actron AutoScanners
TM
unlock the information stored in your
cars computer. The tools large screen clearly displays the
problems trouble code and its description. Actrons AutoScanners
are easily upgradeable, so youll be able to diagnose and repair your
future cars, too. Whenever your check engine light is on, AutoScanner
will pinpoint the problem so you can fix it fast and be on your way.
Care Car
If the problem persists, try switch-
ing the positions of the right and left
tire/wheel assemblies. If the car pulls
in the opposite direction after youve
done this, youve found tire trouble.
Check your tires tread-wear pat-
terns. For example, if a front tires tread
tends to disappear along the outboard
edge, its likely that the camber setting
at that corner is too positive, and any
pull probably will be toward that side.
GEOMETRICAL
CONSIDERATIONS
Camber refers to the tilt of the
tire from the vertical, and this
has a profound effect on direc-
tional tendencies. Zero cam-
ber means the centerline of the
tire is perfectly perpendicular
to a level surface. If the top
of the tire tilts outward from
the body, camber is said to be
positive. Going too far in this
direction will cause a pull to
that side because the tire itself
forms the shape of a cone.
Dont run to the alignment
shop just yet. You can get a
pretty good idea of camber by using
a carpenters level, although youll
need to be parked on a perfectly level
space. We used two 35mm lm canis-
ters held to the edge of the level with
rubber bands. The canisters served as
feet that we placed at the top and bot-
tom of the wheels rim. Keep in mind
that most vehicles will have a degree
or two of negative camber.
Heres where ride height comes
in. As springs or torsion bars sag with
age, camber changes. Replacing coil
springs or adjusting torsion bars can
bring alignment back into specs.
WOOF!
Even if the front wheels are perfect-
ly aligned and tires properly inated,
you may still have to steer constantly
in one direction or the other to keep
the vehicle going straight up the road.
The problem is that the rear wheels
are also trying to steer the vehicle and
overtake the fronts. This condition is
commonly referred to
as dog tracking.
Technically this
oc curs when your
vehicles thrust line
and centerline are too
far apart. On vehicles
with solid rear axles, the thrust line
is perpendicular to the rear axle. On
vehicles with an independent rear
suspension (IRS), the thrust line is
determined by splitting the toe-in
angle of the rear wheels. For exam-
ple, if the left rear wheel is toed in
at 4 and the right is toed at zero,
the thrust line is 2 to the left of the
centerline.
In an ideal world the two lines
coincide. But given a vehicles size,
manufacturing tolerances, wear and
abuse of daily driving, they often do
not. If the deviation between the two
is great, your vehicle will dog track.
Besides having a steering
wheel thats not at center
when youre going straight,
another obvious clue to dog
tracking is if you see four dis-
tinct tracks in the snow or
rain when driving straight.
This is just about impos-
sible to correct without pro-
fessional 4-wheel-alignment
equipment. On IRS cars,
tapered shims are typical-
ly installed under the rear
stub axles to reconcile the
thrust line and centerline
and to restore harmony. With
solid rear axles, the repair
will require replacing the
rear links or straightening
the frame.
22 PSI
SPACERS
CARPENTERS
LEVEL
LEVEL
PAVEMENT
128 JUNE 2004 | WWW.POPULARMECHANICS.COM
PSSST!: Low
tire pressure
will cause
a wheel to
pull.
THIS SIDE UP: A quick camber
check can be done with a level
and two simple spacers.
(Please turn to page 130)
t
Care Car
WANDERLUST
If your car doesnt have a
denite pull to one side,
but instead a sloppy, undis-
ciplined tendency to wan-
der all over the place, the
rst thing to think about
is wear in the steering
and suspension.
Direct observation is
the best way to nd this,
but youll need a helper.
With the car sitting with
all wheels solidly on the
pavement, have him or her
unlock the steering col-
umn, then rock the wheel
vigorously back and forth
while you stick your head
underneath and inspect
with a light. (Needless to
say, do this with the engine off.)
With a parallelogram steering sys-
temthe kind with a Pitman arm
may see the idler or Pitman arm mov-
ing up and down. Or you may notice
slop in the tie-rod ends or perhaps
more rotational action going into the
steering box than coming out. With
rack-and-pinion steering, pay special
attention to the inner tie-rod ends,
and make sure the rack housing itself
is rmly mounted.
Another way to inspect is to slight-
ly raise one tire off the ground (place
the jack under the lower control arm,
then have your assistant rock that tire
side to side, then top to bottom, while
STEERING BAG?
With the recirculating-ball steering
boxes typically found on big domestic
rwd cars, pickups and SUVs, lash will
gradually develop between the worm
and sector gears. You can eliminate
this problem by doing an over-cen-
ter adjustment. Youll nd an adjust-
ing bolt or screw sticking out of the top
of the steering box. With the wheels
as close to the straight-ahead position
as you can get them, loosen the lock-
nut, then turn the screw clockwise
to reduce lash. Do not overdo this or
you can reduce interior tolerances too
much, causing damage. Youll know
youve gone too far if the steering
wheel stays where you put it instead of
returning to a straight-ahead position
under normal road forces, especially
when coming out of a turn.
Lash may exist in the joints that
allow the steering column to trans-
mit the helmsmans commands to the
gearbox. The universal variety typi-
cally lasts forever, but
the rubberized textile
type, fondly known as
a rag joint, often dete-
riorates to the point
at which theres exces-
sive play.
Deteriorated upper control arm
bushings can cause serious steering
problems, and probably a lot of clunk-
ing to boot. Look down on them while
your helper holds the brakes and shifts
from Drive to Reverse and back. Youll
see and hear excessive movement. PM
STEERING
BOX
ADJUSTMENT
BOLT
TIE ROD
LOOSER: Worn
tie-rod ends
let the wheels
wander, mak-
ing steering
vague.
For more automotive features check
out the PM.Zone Web site
POPULARMECHANICS.COM/AUTO
130 JUNE 2004 | WWW.POPULARMECHANICS.COM
LOOSE: Minor adjustment to the
clearance of a high-mileage steering
box can tighten up the steering.
coming out of the steering boxyou
you take a look).
N
ew technology creates greatest
advancement in time keeping
since the quartz movementand lets
everyone benefit from United States
Government innovation. With the
Atomic Digital Watch by La Crosse
Technology, all of us have the oppor-
tunity to take advantage of our tax
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How can a watch possibly create such
an opportunity? The U.S. Government
National Institute of Standards and
Technology (NIST) Time and Frequency
Division, a division of the U.S.
Department of Commerce, maintains
the cesium Atomic Clock, a clock that is
accurate to within one second in a mil-
lion years, to monitor and maintain the
official U.S. time standard. In Colorado
our Government relies on the cesium
Atomic Clock to create a national time
standard to provide the most precise
and accurate measure of time. The
cesium clock drives a low frequency
radio signal, known as the WWVB
signal, which is transmitted at 60 kHz
to your location at the speed of light.
The Atomic Digital Watch has a built-in
receiver that automatically tunes in to
the WWVB signal transmitted to the
NIST stations on a daily basis, so that
you can have the most accurate time in
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having to worry about setting the time
on your watch. Turn the watch on,
select your time
zone and the
watch will set
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The La Crosse
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adjust for
Daylight Saving
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leap year. There
is also a DST
disabling feature
if you live in
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With features that
include a day/date calendar,
12/24 hour mode choice, signal
reception indicator, adjustable
band and 3-volt lithium battery,
this watch is a great gift for anyone
who needs to know the right time,
all the time.
An unbelievably new low price.
The Atomic watch by La Crosse
Technology is now available at a new
low price. Originally $69.95, one of the
most technologically advanced watches
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unbelievably low price of $39.95!
Innovative Home Products home trial
allows you to try the Atomic Digital
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For the best time
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To order by mail, please call for details.
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o
Even hunters have taken note of
the handy coach gun. Those who hunt
grouse and woodcock, and pursue oth-
er heavy-cover wing shooting chores
have found the short barrels are light-
ning fast for ushing out birds. Those
models available in the hammerless/
twin-trigger conguration (especially
those offering interchangeable choke
tubes) are an excellent choice for
upland birds as well as small game.
One-ounce loads are comfortable to
shoot in the 12 ga. Those looking for
less recoil will nd some models avail-
able in 20 ga. and .410.
And there are plenty of models
from which to choose. They arent
made by the legendary companies that
produced the originals. Instead, they
come from factories in Spain, Italy,
Turkey, Brazil, China and elsewhere.
But they are precisely machined with
modern steels and eminently suited to
carry on the coach gun tradition.
The classic twin-trigger/rabbit-
ear models are among the most com-
monly encountered, but there are a
number of hammerless/twin-trigger
models available. Although single-
trigger guns were virtually unheard
of on the Western frontier, coach gun
models featuring this ring mecha-
nism are offered. Heres a look at the
most prominent coach gun models
currently on the market.
HUGLU ARMSCO
Two models of the Turkish-made
Huglu are available. Both are ham-
merless designs featuring 20-in. bar-
rels, interchangeable choke tubes (ve
are supplied with each gun), a Turk-
ish walnut stock and forearm, a raised
center rib with a single-bead front
sight, a manual sliding-tang safety
and case-hardened receivers with pol-
ished, blued barrels. These guns are
available in either 12 or 20 ga. The
Durango model offers a single trigger,
while the Amarillo provides the tradi-
tional twin-trigger conguration. 847-
768-1000; www.armsco.net
CENTURY ARMS
Four budget-priced models of Chinese
manufacture are offered, and each is a
traditional exposed-hammer/double-
trigger design. All feature 20-in. bar-
rels, a sliding safety, a center rib with a
bead front sight and a walnut-stained
hardwood stock. They are available
in 12 and 20 ga. in xed-choke and
full-choke models, as well as .410 in a
cylinder choke.
Also available is the Century Arms
Centurion Coach Gun model, an upper-
level offering manufactured by Kahn in
Turkey. Chambered for 12 ga. (3-in.
shells) with 20-in. cylinder-choke
barrels, a sunken center rib and a
brass-bead front sight, it is an exposed-
hammer/double-trigger design with
Anson & Deeley-style sidelocks, a Turk-
ish walnut stock and polished, blued
metalwork. www.centuryarms.com
RIDING SHOTGUN
(Continued from page 97)
WeatherTech
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Available at home centers, lumber yards and hardware stores, wherever fine tools are sold.
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1 LIGHTS OUT
1
OPTRONICS NIGHTBLASTER GL-100
$85.99
If pesky varmints are chewing up your
garden, digging up your lawn or other-
wise giving you ts, you can put out their
lights with the help of the Varmint Light.
The NightBlaster GL-100 mounts to a 1-in.
scope and uses a stock-mounted switch.
The quartz halogen light with red lens
projects a 100-yard beam. The light is
sold with a 6-volt rechargeable battery.
Contact Optronics at 800-364-5483.
LORD OF THE RINGS DVD $29.95
Now you can take the last of the trilogy
home. The nal brick in a house built
of love and sweat, The Lord Of The
Rings: The Return Of The King is now
on DVDwith even more of the lm to
enjoy. A second disc included in the pack-
age oers hours of additional content:
behind-the-scenes specials, featurettes, a
preview of The Lord Of The Rings video
game from Electronic Arts, and more. So
relive the magic of one of the best stories
ever told. The DVD is available in both
widescreen and full-screen versions.
www.lordoftherings.net
2
JUNE 2004 | WWW.POPULARMECHANICS.COM
Gorilla Glue is the versatile,
interior/exterior adhesive
ideal for most household
fixes and building projects:
furniture repair, crafts,
woodworking, and general
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Bonds wood, stone,
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Incredibly strong and
100% waterproof.
REQUEST YOUR FREE
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1-800-966-3458
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2 NO SMOKING
JUSTICE BROS. DIESEL FUEL
TREATMENT $7.25
If you drive a diesel-powered vehicle,
check out Justice Bros. Diesel Fuel
Treatment. The product helps keep fuel
tanks, lines and lters free of gums, resins
and tars that can build up and interfere
with proper fuel delivery. It also cleans
injectors and protects against rust. Other
benets include easier cold-weather start-
ing and exhaust smoke control. Contact
Justice Bros. at 626-359-9174.
2
DREMEL CORDLESS ROTARY TOOL
$70
Dremel steals a page from the laptop
computer industry playbook by using a
lithium-ion battery in its rotary tool. The
10.8-volt tool produces the same rpm as
Dremels corded models: 5000 to 35,000.
And it oers 50 percent more torque than
its predecessor. Another advantage of
the lithium-ion battery is charge storage.
The new battery retains 85 percent of its
charge after four months in storage, com-
pared to a complete loss of charge for a
nickel-cadmium battery. Additional batter-
ies cost about $40. The rotary tool comes
in a kit that includes a 3-hour charger and
60 accessory bits. Its sold at hardware
stores and home centers. Contact Dremel,
4915 21st St., Racine, WI 53406; 800-437-
3635. www.dremel.com
1 PAGE BURNER
3 DASH THRASH
3
JUST DASHES FADE AWAY $129.99
Old soldiers fade away, and so does the
color of your dash over time. Bring back
the original shade or change the color to
suit your mood with the Fade Away vinyl
dye kit. Included are 2 quarts of dye and
a disposable sprayer. Call 800-247-3274.
www.justdashes.com
JUNE 2004 | WWW.POPULARMECHANICS.COM
Stoner, Inc. 1070 Robert Fulton Hwy. Quarryville, PA 17566 1-888-STONER3 code # VPM3U
invisibleglass.com
Invisible Glass
AUTOMOTIVE AISLE
6 KICK ME
CREEPER SWEEPER $7.95
We cant think of anything worse than rolling along on your creeper and getting
stopped dead in your tracks by debris (nuts, bolts, etc.) on your garage foor. Now you
can beat the heartbreak of wheel bind-up with Creeper Sweeper replacement casters
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able in a 2
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2 BIG PUSH
1 A BETTER BEAD
GENERAL ELECTRIC CAULK $4-$6
GE improved its caulk by reformulating
it and improving its container. The latex-
silicone product is called Caulk-It, and it
comes in a well-designed squeeze tube
that is shaped for an easy grip. Remove its
cap, unclip the nozzle from the container
and thread it on the tube. The nozzle is pre-
cut, but you can cut it back to make a larg-
er opening. Part of the reformulation proc-
ess, says GE, was to improve the caulks
ability to extrude and be tooled to a neat
nish. Thread the cap back on when youre
done and hang the tube from its hook. The
caulk is sold at hardware stores and home
centers. Contact GE Sealants & Adhesives,
16325 Northcross Dr., Huntersville, NC
28078. www.gesealants.com
OUTBOARD PROPULSION SYSTEMS
Bolt a self-contained 4-cylinder 150-hp die-
sel or a 275-hp small-block V8 package to
the transom of your 16- to 25-ft. boat. The
engine powers a large-diameter jet drive
via a toothed Kevlar belt. The units ber-
glass shell spreads the weight of the pow-
er pack over a larger area as compared to
an outboard. Contact Outboard Propulsion
Systems at 386-676-7685. www.jetpac.us
1
2
JUNE 2004 | WWW.POPULARMECHANICS.COM
(Please turn to page 144)
The Worlds Best Just Got Better!
performance circuitry that provides maxi-
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X-treme POP protectionthe most
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Order yours today. Were so confident that youll
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The all new, technologically advanced Passport
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For more than 25 years ESCORT has set the
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Introducing the all new Passport 8500 X50
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The Passport 8500 X50 takes radar/laser perfor-
mance to the X-treme:
X-treme radar rangeup to 50% more
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X-treme laser responsehigh
Introducing the all New
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Call Toll Free 1-888-837-2678
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ENJOY THE DYNAMIC PHOTOGRAPHY THAT
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1 UNHOOKED
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How many times have you snagged yourself trying to twist the hook out of a big sh?
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Taking the genre of baseball video
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JUNE 2004 | WWW.POPULARMECHANICS.COM
2 SLUG IT OUT
1
3
4 GREAT CRATE
HORSE PAL FLY TRAP $225
If biting ies are driving you away from
your yard or pool, check out the Horse Pal
trap. We did, and it works. The odorless
trap lures ies in the horsey/deery
family and uses no baits or chemicals.
All you have to do is periodically dump
the dead ies from the collecting jar. The
trap is available from Horse Pal. For more
information, call 888-685-2244.
3 NO-FLY ZONE
CHEVY RACING CRATE ENGINE
$4999
If clapped-out Yugos are zipping past
you on the highway, consider repowering
with a Joe Sherman Racing Development
350-cu.-in. Chevy crate engine. Complete
and ready to run with a dyno-proven 450
hp and 440 ft.-lb. of torque at 5800 to
5900 rpm, the engine is based on a GM
Goodwrench short block with Pro Topline
906 iron heads. The intake consists of an
Edelbrock Performer RPM manifold and
Holly Avenger 4-barrel carb. For informa-
tion, call 714-542-0515. PM
3
4
JUNE 2004 | WWW.POPULARMECHANICS.COM
G
No single-tip spark plug can make
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unique Split Vdouble-tip
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1-888-454-1193
RUN YOURPORTABLE GASOLINE
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Easy, lowcost, do-it-yourself change over
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153
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Popular Mechanics (ISSN 0032-4558) is published
monthly by Hearst Communications, Inc., a unit
of the Hearst Corporation, 959 Eighth Avenue, New
York, NY 10019, U.S.A. Victor F. Ganzi, President, Chief
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SPEED SQUARE
SAW GUIDE
For a lot of basic carpentry chores,
especially framing with construction
lumber, perfectly square cuts arent
crucial. Mark a square line on a board
and make the cut with your saw. If
youre reasonably careful, youll get
a decent, serviceable cut. But lots of
times close isnt good enough. Sid-
ing joints and trim joints are just two
examples that come to mind. One great
way to get square cuts easily is by using
a speed square as a saw guide. Just
mark the board with a cutline. Place
your saw so the blade will cut on the
waste side of this line, and slide a speed
square against the outboard base of the
saw. Hold the square frmly and push
the saw against it. (You also can use
a framing square or a combination
square to get similar results, but both
lack the wide face to push against that
the speed square has.) This technique
takes a couple of tries before its com-
fortable, but once it is, a good square
cut will always be close at hand.
FLEXIBLE
DRYWALL KNIVES
Many people who do their own work
around the house dont mind hang-
ing a little drywall once in a while. Its
heavy work and usually very messy,
but it goes up fastafter all, each 4 x 8
sheet covers 32 sq. ft. of wall or ceiling
area. But fnishing drywall with tape
and multiple coats of compound
to say nothing of all the sanding
requiredis almost universally dread-
ed. In fact, the process is so annoying
that people frequently give up on doing
a good job and just hope that a couple
of coats of paint will make everything
okay. Unfortunately, it wont. One rea-
son that fnishing work is so hard is
that many people use the wrong tools.
They try to spread the compound with
the same 4- or 6-in.-wide stiff-blade
putty knives theyve had around the
house for years. A better idea is to buy
some fexible knives like the ones that
professional fnishers use. These tools
are commonly available in hardware
stores in 6-, 8-, 10- and 12-in. widths
that should handle just about any joint
you are likely to encounter. (You can
tell if theyre fexible enough by simply
bending the blade as shown here.) The
fexibility of these tools allows them to
better follow the slight contours of a
joint, leaving behind a smoother, more
uniform surface that requires far less
sanding. And, as we all know, the less
sanding the better. PM
We cannot be responsible for loss of unsolicited queries, manuscripts or photos. For return, they must be accompanied by adequate postage. AS A SERVICE TO READERS, Popular Mechanics publishes newsworthy products, techniques
and scientifc and technological developments. Due to possible variance in the quality and condition of materials and workmanship, Popular Mechanics cannot assume responsibility for proper application of techniques or proper
and safe functioning of manufactured products or reader-built projects resulting from information published in this magazine.
154 JUNE 2004 | WWW.POPULARMECHANICS.COM
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