Downtown Records

Why you should always put a coin in the freezer before you leave home

How to Shop for Classical Music on Vinyl

So, you’ve decided to nerd up your record collection and expand your aural palette by getting into classical music on vinyl? Awesome! But where to start? The good news is that high-quality classical vinyl is relatively easy to find. The great news is that learning the basics of how to...

A Fun Way To Repurpose Vinyl Records: Use Them To Make Your Own Color-Changing Bluetooth Speaker...

See how to repurpose old 45 vinyl records into a DIY lamp that changes colors & plays music. This DIY glow lamp is a color-changing Bluetooth speaker lamp!

Jimmy Page Tricked You: Why You're Playing "Stairway to Heaven" Wrong—and How to Fix It

I know what you’re thinking: “I can already play that perfectly well, thank you very much!” And, of course, you can. You’ve got the intro and verse rhythm

Does audio equipment require maintenance?

Is audio equipment similar to automobiles when it comes to maintaining them? They are both highly complicated and sophisticated systems, so perhaps they need regular maintenance.

The Pros of Plasma

On a lot of construction jobsites, metal cutting is a necessary step before many applications can be started, so choosing a cutting process that offers versatility and portability is important for productivity. Two popular metal-cutting options — plasma

How to Maintain a Mulching Head Attachment

The Harsh Life of Forestry Work Requires Regular Maintenance Few attachments undergo the harsh operating conditions of a mulching head. Between the abrasive work, the...

Have Kids at Home? Check Out These Fun Construction Activities!

Since we’re all hunkering down at home and practicing social distancing, we at Compact Equipment thought it would be fun to spread a little cheer to the kids at home (and hopefully provide some peace for parents trying to navigate this new — temporary — normal)<br>We’ve created a PDF full of construction-themed activities for your little ones. There’s a mix of math and language arts worksheets, coloring pages and more. Simply download the PDF and print. It’s available in both high-res and…

B.Y.O.B. (Build Your Own Backhoe)

Outfit Your Dream Machine with Standard and Optional Features

Tips to Make the Right Equipment End-of-Life Decision

Even with the most proactive maintenance and careful, attentive operation, no tree care or landscaping equipment will last forever. Operational tendencies, maintenance preferences and the...

Building the ideal UTV with The Toro Company

Utility vehicles are used in a number of unique applications — from large-scale landscaping projects, to construction sites, to general transportation on farms and rural...

Compact Wheeled Excavators vs. Backhoes: Four Factors to Consider

Let’s talk about compact wheeled excavators versus backhoes. Many backhoe customers opt for that machine because of its mobility and how it serves as two...

How Are Tier 4 Engines Affecting the Construction Marketplace?

Every year it seems like engine manufacturers are breaking new ground with innovative, emissions-compliant, off-highway diesel engines. As painful and expensive as engine emissions regulations...

Work Truck Trailering: What You Need to Know

Trailering behind vocational trucks is often taken for granted. For instance, Class 8 drivers in over-the-road and less-than-truckload applications tend to experience fewer loading issues...

Portable Power? Let's Learn How to Rent a Towable Generator

Generator rental is common on most any jobsite, although the reasons for seeking the power provided by this equipment vary.

Promote Safety on the Job With These Universal Guidelines for Compact Equipment Operation

A safety culture starts with management and operational staff members who treat safety and health as an investment, not a cost, and who value as well as demonstrate model behaviors.

When Smaller is Smarter: Compact Equipment Handling Big Jobs

For many jobs, it is not a question of if you’ll use small machines, but more likely when do they fit into the plan. I’ve seen countless situations in which a compact machine was better suited for a job than heavy duty equipment. Size requirements, weight limitations and maneuverability needs make c...

Who Needs Horizontal Boring Equipment?

From landscape lighting installation to irrigation system maintenance, horizontal boring is highly valuable for keeping projects going when up against pavement. As a result, many landscaping professionals and homeowners find a fast return on investment in horizontal boring equipment. But others fail to realize the benefits due to misconceptions that boring machines are too expensive to rent or purchase or are limited in use<br>The applications…

Welding Wisdom: Optimize Engine Drive Performance with These 4 Factors

Your engine drive is a workhorse that lets you complete a wide range of jobs in the field — from multiprocess welding and gouging to...

May the Force Be with You: Tips for Selecting the Right Plate Compactor

Turning sand, stone and gravel into something that can keep its form while withstanding the weight of a 2-ton structure or vehicle sounds like some Jedi mastery at work. Fortunately, thanks to vibratory plate compactors, contractors can achieve these results with no special mastery training required. But not all plate compactors are the same. To ensure productivity, efficiency and high-quality results are achieved, sharpen your plate…