Recent Articles

Below are some recent articles about and by your favorite hometown hardware store.

This article was first published by MSNBC.com and is very informative regarding the issues with today's gasoline and your power equipment. We couldn't state it any clear or better, so we wanted to pass this along

Mechanics see ethanol damaging small engines
Fuel blend, already implicated in high food prices, linked to rise in repairs
By Alex Johnson, Reporter, msnbc.com

Rick Kitchings has been a small-engine mechanic for about 30 years, and he’s been busier than ever lately. Recently, a customer came into his shop in Savannah, Ga., with a string trimmer that had barely been used. “It looked like it just came off the showroom floor, but the motor was absolutely shot, absolutely worn out,” Kitchings said. The owner had fueled the trimmer with a gasoline-ethanol blend, which is becoming increasingly common thanks to a federal mandate to convert to biofuels.

Although the Web is rife with complaints from car owners who say ethanol damaged their engines, ethanol producers and automakers say it’s safe to use in cars. But smaller engines — the two-cycle utility engines in lawnmowers, chain saws and outboard boat motors — are another story.

Benjamin Mallisham, owner of a lawnmower repair shop in Tuscaloosa, Ala., said at least 40 percent of the lawnmower engines he repairs these days have been damaged by ethanol. “When you put that ethanol in here, it eats up the insides or rusts them out,” Mallisham said. “All the rubber gaskets and parts — it eats those up.”

The sludge problem
Auto mechanics say the same thing takes place in car engines, where debris dislodged by ethanol in gas station fuel tanks can gum things up. But car engines are highly sophisticated; especially in later models, they’re equipped to comfortably handle the fallout of ethanol-blended gas, mechanics said. The Renewable Fuels Association, a trade group for ethanol producers based in Washington, says there’s no evidence that ethanol can damage smaller engines, either. “Tests completed on lawnmowers, chainsaws, weed trimmers and blower vacs with ethanol fuels showed no engine failures, no unscheduled maintenance and good performance,” the association said. But mechanics across the country insist that as gasoline blended with ethanol takes over in more gas stations, lawnmowers and boat motors everywhere are choking. “They’re starving for gas, because the little needle holes in them are stopped up with the gel that happens when that stuff breaks down,” Mallisham said. “It stops them up so it can’t run.”

Here’s what happens: In smaller engines, ethanol can create a chain reaction of events that end up clogging valves and rusting out small metal parts — including, crucially, carburetors. “When you mix ethanol with your fuel, you’ve now put a chemical substance in there that’s going to attract moisture, which is going to promote a quicker deterioration of the fuel that you have,” said Bob Magnotti, owner of Magnotti’s Small Engine Service in Roanoke, Va. In effect, said Doug Ryms, a mechanic at Como Mower Service in Columbus, Ohio, “the alcohol actually dissipates the oil. So on a two-cycle engine, you’re lubricating the engine, but the oil is being pushed away, so it’s actually not lubricating the engine.” That creates a gummy residue, called shellack, that clogs filters and hoses. And it does no good to follow the rocking-chair wisdom that says you’ll be fine if you drain the tank before you gas it back up. “People will tell you you can take the gas out of them and it won’t happen, but it’s the residue that does the damage,” Mallisham said.

Ethanol already under pressure
Most gasoline sold in the United States is now mixed with up to 10 percent ethanol, according to industry estimates. Use of the blended fuel, often called E10, has grown with a federal mandate designed to boost the levels of renewable fuels at the pump. In many areas, it’s the only gasoline widely sold. The fuel blend has been the focus of debate in recent months as analysts and some farmers say the diversion of corn to ethanol production has led to higher prices for corn in its use as a food crop. The Environmental Protection Agency is considering a request for a temporary 50 percent cut in new mandates for ethanol production because of concern that they are helping drive up food costs. In a study released this week, researchers at Purdue University in Indiana found that corn prices had risen to $4 a bushel, the highest in a decade, largely because of the higher prices farmers can demand from fuel producers. “Three dollars was just because the price of oil went up and the market demanded more ethanol to substitute for gasoline,” said Wallace E. Tyner, co-director of Purdue’s Center for Global Trade Analysis. David Summers, a biofuels researcher at Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, said that while ethanol was cheaper to produce than pure gasoline because it is subsidized, vehicles may also get fewer miles to the gallon. “It was the wonder fuel to get us out of trouble — and it won’t,” he said. When you add in its tendency to damage some engines, many mechanics and green fuel advocates are asking whether ethanol is worth it. “There is no massive PR machine working to point out the downsides of ethanol, like there is on the other side,” said Christa Westerberg, a lawyer in Stoughton, Wis., who has represented opponents of ethanol plants in Wisconsin.

Rick Kitchings, the mechanic in Georgia, said consumers simply should insist on pure gasoline for their small utility engines.

“Theoretically, avoid ethanol,” he said. “Avoid ethanol.”

As seen in the November 4, 2008 Yankee Flyer Edition...

As seen in the August 28, 2008 Hartford Courant Discover Simsbury supplement...

As seen in the December 2007 Simsbury Chamber of Commerce's Business Beat newsletter...

Think Outside the Box This Holiday Season
By John & Melissa Brett, owners of Welden Hardware

Do you have a long list of people you need to buy holiday gifts for this month? Friends, parents, co-workers, neighbors? Have a pretty gift box but no idea what to put inside it? We recommend thinking outside “the norm” this year and give them something they can use, and not just for the holidays. Gifts certificates and gift cards from their favorite stores and restaurants are an ideal present. But don’t just go out and get everyone on your list the same major department store gift card, put some thought is put into each one to really make that gift mean something. Here are a few ideas that may help you this hectic season:

· Purchase some restaurant gift certificates for the person that is too busy to even cook their own dinners. There are many excellent restaurants in Simsbury that range from pizza and ice cream to an elegant night on the town.

· For the clutter bug, hire them a personal organizer for a day.

· Make or purchase gift baskets that contain small items with a gift card from their store. If it’s a candy store buy a few small chocolates and let them choose the rest. If it’s a clothing store, buy a tie, belt or scarf to put in the basket. You can even go to their favorite hardware store and get a few paint brushes and a small bucket and put a gift certificate to paint their living room.

· Purchase a gift certificate for whole house cleaning or just window cleaning.

· For the business professional on your list, find out their favorite dry cleaners and get enough on a gift card for several shirts or a few suits.

· Purchase a gasoline card for that person on your list who just purchased their first car

· For those on your list just starting out on their own, find out what kind of appliances they may need (washing machine, dishwasher, etc.) and get them a gift certificate from a local appliance store, even if they live far away. We recommend working with a local appliance store, so if there are any problems or questions, they can go back to that store for the personal service.

· For the teenagers on your list, find out their favorite ice cream or coffee shop.

· Give a manicure or pedicure for that stressed out soccer mom on your list.

One of the easiest ways to find more ideas is to browse through the Chamber of Commerce Business directory and think of all those people on your list. Many gift certificates and cards can be purchased in just a few minutes, but will mean so much to the recipient than another fondue pot or picture frame.

As seen in the July 2007 Simsbury Chamber of Commerce's Business Beat newsletter...

Summer & Your Lawn

By John & Melissa Brett, Owners of Welden Hardware

Summer is here and the heat is on. A popular question we get at our store is, “What should I do to help my lawn in summertime?” As a general rule, most lawns require about one inch of water per week from rain or sprinkling. “How long should I water to equal one inch?” you ask. Well, it depends on your water pressure and the type of sprinkler you choose.

Know When to Water

Look for these lack-of-water stress signs:

Grass turns a silvery blue in areas and, if not watered soon, will turn brown.
Footprints in lawn. Footprints remain clearly in the lawn, which indicates that watering is needed.

If the lawn is badly in need of water, you should water it at any time. The best time, however, is early in the day rather than evenings, as late watering can encourage the spread of fungus disease.

Measuring Water Output

An easy way to check your sprinkler output is to use three empty tin cans that are of identical size. Place them at different distances from the sprinkler, within the sprinkler pattern. Turn on the water for an hour, then empty all water into one of the cans. Using a ruler, measure the depth of the water and divide by three. This gives the amount of water your sprinkler supplies the lawn in one hour.

Watering New Seedlings

Improper watering is one of the most common causes for seeding disappointments.

The seed bed must be kept moist to cause grass seed to germinate.

Once seeds begin to sprout, the top inch or so of soil should never be allowed to dry out until the new grass plants are well established. The tiny seedlings will die if the soil is allowed to dry out. This may mean watering several times a day — especially in hot or windy weather.

The key is to water new seedlings frequently, not deeply. The goal is to keep it constantly moist, but not soaked. Using a sprinkler that delivers a fine spray is preferred over sprinklers that deliver a heavier flow of water.

Watering Tips

It's best to water early in the day. You won't waste water through evaporation, and watering at night puts your lawn at risk for developing mildew and fungus disease.
Don't give your lawn a light sprinkling. This promotes shallow roots, and it may not even reach the soil, depending on how much you water.
Water deeply and infrequently (1/2" twice a week is enough) and don't waste water.
If a screwdriver can be inserted in the soil about 6 inches deep, then the ground is plenty moist.
Watch hoses and spreaders for leaks to avoid wasting water.

Utilize a timer if possible which will help conserve water and make the job easier. There are several different types of timers available, from the wind up model, to a more sophisticated electric one that can be programmed while you are away for several days.
Any sprinkler will do, as long as it covers the areas you intend to water.
Warm-season grasses require less water than cool-season grasses.
Always adjust your watering depending on the weather.

As seen in the April 2007 Simsbury Chamber of Commerce's Business Beat newsletter...

Fuel: Friend or Foe?
By John & Melissa Brett, Owners, Welden Hardware

It’s finally time to put away the snow blowers and think about your lawn and garden. But before you do, there is something you need to consider before storing any power equipment – the fuel that is in your equipment. In our repair shop, we see machines less than a year old have starting issues. And the number one culprit is the gas!

While attending a recent small engine service school, we heard the number one complaint from repair shops across the nation was the quality of fuel and how it affects small engines, such as those that power chain saws to tractors. The issue is actually two-fold: the engines and the fuel they burn. In recent years engine manufacturers have had to reduce emission levels to comply with EPA regulations. In doing so, the ability to make adjustments to the fuel/air mixture has been eliminated. Thus, any small deposit or restriction of a passageway in the carburetor affects the way it will run. Surging and loss of power will be the result.

Gasoline that you buy at the pump is actually a result of the process of refining and distilling petroleum. During the distilling process, additives to clean your engine and reduce emissions are put in, as well as ethanol and these are what causes fuel quality to deteriorate so quickly. The ethanol in particular is causing damage to internal carburetor parts that cannot be reversed.

What should you do with old gas that is sitting in cans in your garage? If it’s straight, untreated gas and more than 60 days old, DO NOT use it in any power equipment. We recommend that you pour it into your car’s gas tank. Typically, you may have less than 2 gallons hanging around, and your car can handle older gas if you dilute it into a quantity of fresh gas. If you have a gas can that contains old stale oil/gas mixture (typically for smaller snow blowers, chainsaws, trimmers, etc.), there isn’t much you can do until hazardous waste disposal day comes to town. That is why we recommend not mixing more than you can use in 60 days.

So, what can you do to keep your machines running? We recommend a few different choices, depending on your situation. First, when you are ready to use a piece of equipment, always use fresh gas. We have talked to local gas station owners, and they tell us that gasoline stays “fresh” for less than 60 days. Also remember, the gas that you are buying at a station has been stored, shipped and stored again for some time, so the clock has already started ticking weeks or even months earlier. Second, we strongly suggest you add fuel stabilizer to the gas at the time of purchase. There are many different brands out there: look for one that promises to preserve gas for up to 12 months. There is a permanent drop-in option that we recommend which will keep gas fresh for the life of the engine. It also reduces emissions and increases combustion efficiency. Whatever option you choose, it is important that you start any piece of power equipment that you aren’t regularly using every 60 days and run it for 10 minutes or more. This will keep deposits from forming in your carburetor and mix the fuel in the gas tank with that in the fuel lines and carburetor. Running your snow blower, for example, until the gas tank is empty won’t always work, because there is always some fuel left in the carburetor that will go bad and cause problems next season.

Finally, don’t forget all your other equipment that you don’t use on a regular basis. We recommend to everyone who owns a generator or chainsaw to always use treated fuel, because you never know when you will need it. And when you do, the last thing you want to be dealing with is a machine that won’t start.

If you want to find out more about fuel issues and options to treat fuel, come on down to our store, drop us an email or give us a call – we’re always glad to help.