Appliances, Bikes, Cars, & Other Machines

 Appliances, Appliance Repair




(Discarded "white" appliances -- without refrigerant -- can be dropped into the metal-recycling bin at the Transfer Station.) 

Bicycle Repair

Cars

Auto Detailing


Car Mechanics

(Everyone has a story ... no one repair shop is perfect for all people. However, the following have had particularly sterling reports and have many loyal users.)



Car Body Work




Greg Wilson, longtime resident of Mill River, 413-441-5717. I have been doing auto body repair for 43 years, and paintless dent repair for 12 years. My process manipulates small dings and dents without major bodywork or painting. I usually work, weather permitting, at your location. Free estimates. (5/23)



Car Rental


Car Wash, Thorough (interior, too)


Drivers

See Babysitters and Other Helpers


EV Charging Stations (info incomplete; pls send updates to Marj)

Big Y -- Tesla only

Mass Pike -- fast chargers?

Hillsdale town hall parking lot: https://chargehub.com/en/stations/ny/hillsdale/town-hall.html?locId=60269. Slow, not free.

Berkshire Co-op: slow but free (as of 12/21)

Norman Rockwell Museum: ChargePoint.




Rust Prevention


Shipping a Car


Tires


Used Car Dealers


Clock Repair

Grandfather clocks


Leaf-Blower, Electric: Recommendation (11/23)

I watched tech comparison videos, and read Consumer reports and reports from the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy, and MASSPIRG.

 

In addition to not having to buy and mess with fuel or maintain an engine, and the fact that they’re quieter, switching to a battery leaf blower has a huge environmental impact. That’s because 2-stroke gas engines, phased out in cars, boats, etc., but still allowed for lawn equipment, are an old, super-polluting technology. One hour of gas blowing is worse than driving 1100 miles, and it spews 23 times the carbon dioxide, and 300 times more non-methane hydrocarbons. In 2020, US lawn equipment spewed as much particulate matter as 234 million cars.

 

Switching from lawn to meadow is another thing I’m looking to do. But meanwhile, I decided to get a battery blower.

 

Battery blowers aren’t as powerful as the best walk-behinds or even the best backpack versions. (The Husquevarna backpack backpack blows at 270MPH; the most powerful ECO blows at 200MPH or, with the attachment that makes the blower narrow and wide, about 220. But that beats many cheaper backpack versions, including some good name brands. If your area isn’t huge, a battery blower may be a good option.

 

This EGO <https://www.acehardware.com/departments/lawn-and-garden/outdoor-power-equipment/leaf-blowers/7026058> won every comparison. Most powerful; longest running time; one of the two lightest. I went with the RYOBI <https://www.amazon.com/Whisper-Brushless-Cordless-Battery-Included/dp/B09VWKMX6N/ref=sr_1_5?crid=1H6MBO6P7NTTK&keywords=ryobi+leaf+blower&qid=1700239161&sprefix=ryobi+leaf+blower,aps,100&sr=8-5>, which was in everybody’s top three, is the other lightest one, and is quieter. It blows at 190MPH and has 75% of the running time, but since I already have 2 Ryobi batteries, I bought this one because the machine alone w/o battery was about $100 bucks cheaper.

 

If one person reads this and swaps, I’ll have done some good so thanks for reading.

Also, once someone has the Ryobi batteries, Ryobi also sells lanterns, flashlights, and inverters powered by the same batteries. Very helpful during power outages. While the inverter and the battery won't power high wattage draw appliances, it will power lamps, phone chargers, and even the fan connected to some wood stoves.

Exercise Equipment Repair

Aatlantic Fitness, https://aatlanticfitness.com/. They come to your house and repair treadmills, etc. (11/22)


Sewing Machine Repair


Small Engine Work


Staircase Chair Installation


Typewriters, Old -- Refurbishing


Vacuums