Moving Kitchen Cabinets for Remodeling

Between Christmas and New Year's Eve a remodeling professional from Wyoming called with a desperate need for the Wider BigSlider™ utility mover. His partner had seen someone in Arizona moving a heavy appliance, and "it was so easy!" he insisted they get one for their business.

He was about to start on a remodeling project and needed the wider model right away. We shipped him the demo we'd used in the National Hardware Show, where we won Popular Mechanics Editor's Choice Award for Top 13 New Tools and DIY Network's Chris Grundy of Cool Tools shot us for their "On the Move" episode. That ran show ran on DIY from October through last November - thanks Cool Tools!

And, thank you GR from Jackson WY for saving your back on your remodeling project! Plus, we hope it saves you time and money.

Repairing a Brick Patio

The corner of Jeri's brick patio had collapsed, so she decided to remove the sunken area and re-sand it.

This project involved moving a heavy Pennsylvania bluestone stone paver around in her yard, as well as bricks, and getting a 50 lb. bag of sand (the only way it comes!) from the store to the patio to level the patio bricks and paver. She lifted it just once from the store floor into the shopping cart's child seat. From then on it was BigSlider to the rescue.

She draped it over the cart handle and slid the bag into the trunk. BigSlider also kept sand from getting all over the trunk. She used the rope threaded through the tail to pull it from the trunk to the driveway and drag the 50 lb bag to the patio.

This can become quite a chore for someone working alone, but the Bigslider family of gardening tools really paid of in making it possible.

Moving the 50 lb. bag of sand out of the trunk of the car was probably the toughest part of the job, but the Bigslider Utility Mover worked great to help her avoid lifting and possible back strain. All it took was a little creativity and maneuvering, and the job was done!

After finishing the job, Jeri had a great looking patio at her home to enjoy.



You can read the whole story on the site at "Repairing My Brick Patio by Myself".

How Strong is BigSlider anyway?

I often get asked how much weight BigSlider can handle and how strong it is.
Take a look at our tear test conducted by a third-party service. We connected the tail by threading the rope through the PVC extension handle, then through the corner holes. The handle was connected at the other end with a webbing strap.

The handle pulled out a 402 lbs force -- that's equivalent to 800 - 2,000 lbs on the sheet, depending on the surface you're pulling over. In other words, no one's gonna rip the handle out without a pickup truck hitch attached to it -- like the guys who pulled the huge stump (see blog 9/26/08). Interestingly, the tail configuration was still going strong after the handle tore out. So if you've got something REALLY heavy, pull from the tail with the pipe and rope. --- Jeri

NOTE: we rate BigSlider to a 500 lb load, just to be safe! And of course, NEVER pull more than feels comfortable for you.

Make Concrete Easy - BigSlider + CreteSheet at the World of Concrete

Concrete Projects Made Easy! Green, Back-Saving, Top Tools at the World of Concrete Feb 3-6, 2009: CreteSheet™ concrete mixer and BigSlider™ utility mover.

BigSlider will be displayed with CreteSheet at the World of Concrete February 3-6, 2009 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. CreteSheet and BigSlider are the perfect combination for concrete projects. BigSlider gets the bags where you need them, and CreteSheet quickly mixes 80 lbs of concrete in 90 seconds. Your back will thank you since both tools use the ground to carry the weight. John Shoemaker will demonstrate concrete made easy at booth S-22411 (South Hall, second floor).

Both tools are green: human-powered and made of recyclable plastic. Not only that, they have been chosen by Popular Mechanics to receive their coveted Editor’s Choice Award for top new tools. BigSlider has been featured on two DIY Network “Cool Tools” episodes and was named one of 14 top "Hot Tools for 2009" by Canadian Home Workshop. CreteSheet was also named a World of Concrete MIP Winner.

See more at http://www.cretesheet.com and http://www.bigslider.com

CreteSheet and World of Concrete Booth Contact:
John Shoemaker 866-571-7749

BigSlider Contact:
Jeri Masterson 713-459-0660

Moving multiple heavy objects

One way that the BigSlider™ saves effort is by allowing you to move several objects at once, saving you trips when you have a lot of moving to do. The rope and handle that comes with the BigSlider™ is used to help hold the objects, which could be boxes or coolers or lawn bags, in place while you drag them from where they are to where you want them.

In this clip on Youtube, the founder, Jeri, demonstrates how you use the rope to move three coolers at once.

As simple as the BigSlider™ is, it is also very flexible and adaptable to different uses. Write us and let us know creative ways that you have found to use our utility mover and we will put your stories up where others can see them and learn from them how handy this tool can be in widely varied situations and circumstances.

Lean Times Make More DIYers

The recession is official, and people all over the country are cutting back. For many, that means more "do it yourself" projects, and invites more back aches and muscle strain.

Taking on new projects is easier and safer with the right tools, and we have collected a short list of items that might help couch potatoes converted to home repairmen and gardeners avoid some of those problems,

Recession Proof Your Life?

With many people around the country experiencing hard times now, it is good to hear ideas from someone who had been through similar experiences and survived.

Jeri has written a short article with her suggestions for how to survive in a downturn that can provide a lot of comfort.

Some of her ideas reminded me of a period in my life where I was "between jobs" and how I handled it. I had two sons then who were between five and seven years old, and we decided to build a picnic table together. With their short attention span at that age, I obviously built most of the table myself, but I made sure that they participated in each step in the process, getting a chance to use each of the tools to cut wood, hammer nails, drill holes for screws, drive the screws, and stain the finished table. It was a great project for bonding with my sons and letting them acquire some skills and confidence.

We enjoyed the table for many years, but after some twenty years in the back yard, it was pretty badly deteriorated and we finally got rid of it. My sons never forgot the experience, however, and as a surprise for my birthday, they both came in from out of town without telling me about it. I woke up on the day to find them in the kitchen with my wife (who was in on the surprise) with a big breakfast prepared and party music on the stereo! When I recovered from the shock, they announced, "Dad, we have come in to rebuild the picnic table together!"

We had a great weekend together working on the table, creating not only another table that we enjoy, but a new set of memories that remind me how rewarding life can be even in difficult times.

Major Renovations!

"I’m a huge gadget freak, doing a search on the net for tools and came across an article in Popular Mechanics that mentioned it. Currently I’m doing major renovations at my home a little at a time and this has been perfect for moving furniture and appliances over and back as I work in certain areas...thanks for a great product."

-- A, IL

Keep on gardening in your 70s

"Wanted to let you know that I gave my mother-in-law her slider and she was thrilled. She is a widow with a large yard, pool and garden. She is 72, very active, still works each day, and keeps up her yard and 1 1/2 acres of land....She does most of her outside work herself. She was so glad to have a way to move heavy stuff without hurting her back. Thanks again.” -- DT, AL
(Photo illustrative)
http://www.bigslider.com

Move Heavy Water Heaters Up Stairs and Down!

"I have a hot water heater on the second floor of my house. It failed and needed to be replaced. It weighed 150 pounds! I dreaded getting it down the stairs and getting the new one up the stairs. The weight was more than my wife and I could handle.

"I'd planned on using a dolly to move the water heaters, but I worried about messing up the carpet. Plus, the dolly weighs over twenty pounds by itself - which is even more weight you have to lift up the stairs - and the solid wheels tear up your carpet and floors. So, I had planned to put something down to protect it. But, then I saw BIGSLIDER™.

"I brought it home. It worked great. I didn't have to put anything down to protect the carpet. I slid the new heater up, easily. I slid the old heater down. I used BIGSLIDER™ to slide the heaters over grass, pavement, threshold, tile, and carpet. It worked great!"

-- BW, Texas