Tag Archives: video

Brand Spotlight: Snap-to-Vent Dryer Connectors

April 29, 2017 - posted by Jerica Parker

What is the most frustrating thing about installing your dryer? For me, it’s all the hoses and attachments, and then, getting them to fit in the laundry room without crushing them.

Even more frustrating is how awkward it is to try to lean over your dryer with the hose clamp and screwdriver to install or clean the ventilation hose.

Luckily for you, and for me, Ziggurat Products came up with a solution to our problem. Snap-to-Vent connectors make this job quick and easy!

How the Snap-to-Vent system Works

When pushing your dryer back against the wall, sometimes the hose can be crushed and this prevents necessary ventilation. Both Snap-to-Vent’s products prevent against crushed dryer hoses and are super easy to install.

The best part about Ziggurat Products company is that it’s local, right here in Kaysville, Utah! Check out the Snap-to-Vent 90-Degree and Snap-to-Vent Straight connections on SmithandEdwards.com.

If your Clothes Dryer vents straight to the duct: Straight Connector

If your dryer duct and wall duct are relatively close together, you will want the Snap-to-Vent Straight design connector. This is an easy connection for installing your dryer, and if you ever need to take it back apart for maintenance or cleaning. Simply pre-connect Snap-to-Vent Straight before you go behind your dryer for installation. Place the snap connector over dryer hose with tines on the inside of the hose. Take the straight and place it so that the tines push against the hose holding the connector tight to the dryer hose. Take the seal ring and either put it around the duct or in the straight and press into the duct until it creates an air tight seal. Easy enough!

If your Clothes Dryer hose has to vent on another wall, use the 90° Elbow

The Snap-to-Vent 90-degree Elbow connection helps to avoid smashing your hose by connecting the hose at a 90-degree angle to your dryer. It comes with easy instructions: Pre-assemble the hose to the snap connector and the snap connector into the 90-degree elbow and snap together. Take the seal ring and pre install onto dryer or wall duct and press the 90 elbow into the dryer duct or wall duct. And voila! The elbow connector can push right up against the wall and still keep your hose protected and working how it should.

Having a clean and clear vent reduces the risk of fires and improves the efficiency of your dryer. With no tools necessary and less time and confusion during installation, how could you not love Snap-to-Vent!

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How to tie a Double Diamond Knot and Horse Packing Q&A

October 14, 2016 - posted by Rose Marion

We were privileged to have Travis Sparks come by and do a packing demo the other day. Hunting is a totally different experience with horses. One hunter told me his story about finally getting his deer right at the end of the day, and was dreading the hike back uphill to the truck. Luckily some horse packers saw him, came down, and helped him quarter & pack out the deer. He would have been out there way past sunset without their help!

Packing isn’t just about packing out quarters. Your mule or horse might have tent poles, a shovel, lawn chairs, your bedroll, coolers, cooking supplies, or feed on his back. When you throw in antlers into the mix, packing turns into a real art & skill developed through practice.

Travis is a member of the Back Country Horsemen of Utah & does a lot of packing himself. He gave us a detailed demonstration of the Double Diamond hitch, and answered several questions about packing.

Watch Horse Packing Tips & Knot How-To

I split Travis’s presentation into two videos for you. First, you can see exactly how to do the Double Diamond knot on our trusted cavalry horse. This is a great hitch for top packing. Then, sit back and listen to Travis’s question & answer session about packing elk antlers, using a pack scale to balance your load, using soft packs vs hard packs, and tightening a cinch.

Packing with a Double Diamond knot. Thanks to Troy Higgs for this picture!

Watch: How to tie a Double Diamond Knot

Use a 45-foot rope to make this hitch, which starts out similar to the box hitch. Make sure and pull the rope tight.

Watch: Horse Packing for Hunting Q&A

Where to get those Pack Bags

Smith & Edwards pack bags for hunting on horseback

We make the pack bags shown in Travis’s demo, these are the #663 designed for coolers. We also make a narrower bag without flaps, #1665, and #1666 with flaps.

Of course I’ve got to mention that we proudly make those bearcloth packs you saw in the video, and you can get them right here on our online store. Read about our Tack Workshop in our Ogden store.

Do you have questions about horse packing that Marty or Travis can answer for you? Let us know in the comments below!

Travis’s Tips for Packing

Check your cinch after moving your animal – always make sure it’s tight!
Your goal is to make everything into a single package that moves together, without a pivot point
Keep your horse safe from antlers: make sure the rack moves along with the pack bags. Try not using a stick or a branch to elevate the horns, because they don’t ride well.
Keep the center of gravity low
Keep in mind what will hit a branch first: your pack bags or antlers?
Don’t take shortcuts, don’t get in a hurry – pack it right.
Rule of thumb, pack 15% of an animal’s weight. So for a 1000 pound animal, aim for 150-160 pounds split over the two sides.

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How to make a Boa Paracord Bracelet

September 29, 2016 - posted by Rose Marion

While I was walking past the Rope Room the other day, our Hardware buyer, Blaine Taylor, called me over. “I have a surprise for you,” he said.

Next thing I knew, I found myself in a dark sideroom looking at a bundle of paracord that glowed in the dark!

Just a short time under an LED flashlight was all it took to activate the PARAGLOW white and light blue paracord Blaine just got in. “Wow!” I thought. “This would be so cool to turn into a bracelet for hiking!”

I like having reflective gear, especially as it starts to turn fall, so if I’m walking near twilight the cars can still see me.

A glow in the dark paracord bracelet would be GREAT!

“That’s not all,” Blaine told me. “I’ve got another new paracord. This orange paracord has a jute strand, for starting a fire, AND it’s got an 8lb test fishing line inside.”

You can find reflective & glow-in-the-dark paracord online here, and at the Rope Room in-store at Smith & Edwards. This is some neat stuff!


Light Blue Glow-in-the-Dark 550 Paracord – 100 Feet	White Glow-in-the-Dark 550 Paracord – 100 Feet	Neon Orange Fish & Fire 550 Paracord – 100 Feet

And the bracelet? Jerica in the Web Department helped me make it. Well, I found the bracelet and she figured how to make it! This is a Trilobite bracelet, aka ladder rack or boa paracord bracelet. Here’s how she made it!

Making the Paracord Bracelet

You’ll need:

About 85″ each of 2 colors of 550 paracord (6″ wrist)
If you want a single color bracelet, use 170″ and skip step 1.
5/8″ buckle
Lighter
Scissors

1. Thread the ends of your paracord into the receiving end of your buckle. Then, melt the ends together.

Make a lark’s head knot, hiding the seam of the thread so it doesn’t scratch your wrist.

2. Put the paracord through the two openings in the other buckle. Measure the paracord around your wrist. Add 1/2″ and move the buckle to that point.

3. Tape the buckles to the table, with the 4 strand buckle at the top. You have 2 outer and 2 inner strands now.

4. Make a 4 with the outer left strand, and hold it over all other strands. Bring the outer right strand over the 4 tail, over the inner strands, and under the 4. This will make a Granny knot over the bottom buckle.

In the photo above, for the fourth picture, bring the strand you just wove with, over the outer left strand, under the inner strands, and over the outer right strand.

Then, take the outer right strand and weave it under the strand you just wove with, over the inner strands, and under the outer left strand.

Good job – you’ve finished the hardest part!

We made the bracelet twice, and flipped the colors the 2nd time. We apologize!

5. Now we’ll just weave to the top of the inner cords.

Take the left outer cord and weave it over the first inner cord, under the middle inner cords, and over the last inner cord.

Take the right outer cord and weave it under the last inner cord, over the middle inner cords, and under the first inner cord.

Repeat this process all the way up the bracelet!

6. Now and then, stop to adjust the snugness of the weave, so you can have a consistent & tight weave.

Finishing the Bracelet

Here’s how we finished the boa bracelet.

1. Push & tighten the weave. Then, loop the strands so that they are next to each other. Trim the paracord to be just long enough to grasp.

2. Take your lighter and melt the ends of the strands. Hold the ends together and press with flat nose pliers to seal them together.

Tip: Have a friend hold the lighter for you, so you can hold one strand in each hand, and melt them together!

You’re done! Enjoy your bracelet!

Want to make more Paracord Bracelets?

Looking for more Paracord Bracelet patterns? Here are some sites & channels we found that have GREAT tutorials!

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How to Make your own Laundry Bucket Washer (video)

May 6, 2016 - posted by Rose Marion

Muck-covered overalls? Horse leg wraps? Greasy shop rags? There’s no way those are going in the nice front-loading washing machine.

Here’s a neat way to turn 5-gallon buckets into a shop washing machine that keeps the mucky things out of the clothing laundry. We saw this on Pinterest and HAD to try it out!

Plus, you can also keep this on hand for emergencies: the Zombie Apocalypse or when the power goes out.

Thanks to Melissa in our Housewares department for showing us how to do it, and Marty for cleaning the leg boots!

Tip: Did you just buy a new pair of dark-wash denim jeans? Add a cup of vinegar and don’t add soap. Then, add your new jeans and let them sit overnight. This will help set the dye, and you won’t get as much indigo rub-off on the rest of your laundry!

Make your own DIY Laundry Bucket at Home

You’ll need these supplies:

Two 5- or 6-gallon buckets (We offer 5 gallon on our website.)
1 bucket lid
Plunger
Bushing: we used a 1.5″ x 1″ reducing bushing
Drill with 1/2″ and 2″ hole saw drill bits

Directions:

Drill holes in one of the buckets, both the bottom and 1/3 to 1/2 of the way up the sides.
Drill a hole in the lid with a 2″ hole saw. Then, insert the bushing.
Now drill 1/2″ holes in the rubber plunger.
You’re done!

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How to Rope (Video): Team Ropin’ Tips

February 23, 2016 - posted by Rose Marion

Kwade Kosoff and Pace & Wells Thompson stayed after the 2nd Annual Dummy Ropin’ here at Smith & Edwards to show us some dummy ropin’ runs and give tips on how to head & heel rope.

Head & Heel Ropin’ Tips from Kwade & Kyle Kosoff

Dummy ropin’ is a ton of fun, whether you’re a team roper or a backyard roper. Kyle provided commentary on tips & what to watch for.

Start practicing after school or work and you’ll be a pro roper in no time. Then you can come show us your stuff in our next dummy ropin’ tournament!

These champions walked away with a Classic rope bag from Equibrand. Thanks to Equibrand, Cactus Ropes, & Lonestar Ropes for providing ropes & prizes!

Pace and Braxton, Round I dummy ropin’ winners!

Cinch and Stone, Round II winners!

What you need to know to Start Ropin’

Roping Terms & What they Mean

Spoke:: The amount of rope in your loop from the honda to your grip on the rope.
Slack:: The loose part of the rope. You have to pull the slack to pull the rope tight.
Dally:: Securing the rope to your saddlehorn, in Team Roping when riding a horse. If you’re not on a horse, still practice pulling your slack and pulling your hands up!
Tip:: Part of the loop, the point of the rope, furthest away from your hand.
Heading:: One player catching the calf dummy around the horns or the neck. Kyle’s Tip: Aim at the left horn when you rope the head.
Heeling:: The second player catching the calf dummy around the rear ankles. Kyle’s Tip: Aim at the left hock (ankle).
Honda:: The bit of rope that loops & knots to allow for a loop in your rope. Learn how to tie a honda from Tom. See Marty show how to put on a plastic speedburner.
Lay:: How stiff or soft your rope is. Heelers want a stiffer rope that will hold open longer (to get under the hooves). Heading ropes are softer.

How we Dummy Rope at Smith & Edwards – & you can in your backyard!

You need 3 people: a header, a heeler, and someone to push the dummy.

The header checks in with his heeler, and nods to the person pushing the dummy when he’s ready.

The header runs after the dummy and catches the horns or neck. Then, the header pulls the dummy straight, to the left, giving the heeler a good opportunity to get the rope under and around the dummy’s back legs. Pull the rope tight (dally the slack), and you’ve got it!

How to Score

We timed each run, from the moment the dummy moves forward, with a stopwatch. We stop the timer when the dummy is both headed & heeled.

It has to be a legal head catch: both horns, half a head (1 horn), or around the neck. We added a 5 second penalty if only caught one heel.

Come Give it a Try!

Ready to rope, too? Come in to our Western department and pick up your rope & dallies. Or, click over to Shop for Roping Supplies on our website. We’ll get you what you need!

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What you need for Waterfowl in Utah

December 10, 2015 - posted by Rose Marion

Smith & Edwards is lucky to be right next door to Willard Bay, so we get to hear fishing reports from all types of anglers.

Even more than that, we’re just a couple miles from the Harold Crane Waterfowl Management Area, right behind Willard Bay, which is a great spot for ducks: you can bring a boat or even walk right in.

I got to head out an afternoon with Tyler from the Smith & Edwards gun counter, and his dog Roger, who’s a rambunctious ball of energy, still in training.

Duck hunting’s a popular sport among Smith & Edwards employees and friends. I wanted to see what it would take to get started!

Tyler’s Waterfowl Gear Picks

Here’s what Tyler recommends…

Wear your Smith & Edwards hat for good luck!

Duck hunting camo: Most duck hunters choose Realtree Max-4, Max-5, or MossyOak Shadow Grass Blades patterns. Stay cozy: a good hoodie or jacket is going to keep you good & warm.

Tyler’s rockin’ the Smith & Edwards camo ball cap, too!

A shell belt will keep your ammunition close at hand!

Hunting Waders: The higher the number, the warmer! You can use ankle wraps to keep your jeans from sliding up when you put the waders on.

To take waders off, peel them down your legs!

Duck Calls: Our favorites here at the store are Zink, Primos, and Duck Commander. You can see a selection here, or come into the store and take a peek.

Get some paracord to make yourself a lanyard for your calls!

Shotgun & Shells: Don’t go cheap. You didn’t get all the way out here just to miss! You want a good knock-down Tyler likes the Estate, Hevi-Metal, Fasteel, and Winchester Blind Side shells.

This good-looking gun is a Browning A5 shotgun.

Decoys: Tyler likes the Tanglefree EZ Rig Decoy System, which has also been one of our top sellers this year! It’s such an easy system to use, and like you saw in the video, you can just hook the decoy lines to a carabiner and walk around placing or gathering the decoys.

The Tanglefree EZ Rig system is easy to manage and set up.

Decoy Gloves: We’ve carried Glacier Glove Decoy Gloves for years and they’re great: the neoprene keeps you warm and dry, they’re super flexible, and have grippy sharkskin-textured fingers & palms. These particular ones are Max-5 camo.

Blind Bag: We like Tanglefree and Wildfowler brands. Keep all your shells and gear together without having to worry.

Dog Supplies: We’ve sold out of the Tanglefree dog vests for the season, but we’ll have more coming for next year! We also carry the DT Dog Training systems here in the store, so if you’re looking to have a bird dog next season, you can start training him now.

Roger loves his duck toy, too!

Duck Hunting gear: shells, bind bag, and dog toy!

We’ve got decoy gloves, a blind bag, plenty of shells, and of course Roger’s squeaky duck toy!

Remember, you’ll need a duck stamp, too. When we were out filming we ran into a DNR agent. Be ready!

Had a good duck season? Send us your pictures to help (at) smithandedwards.com. We want to see ’em and add them to our Braggin’ Board.

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How to wrap a Mule Hide Horn Wrap

September 19, 2015 - posted by Rose Marion

Elk herd on Highway 89 - photo by Rose Marion

The elk herd over on Highway 89 definitely exists. Check out those earrings!

Everyone knows about the elk herd over on Highway 89, north of Pettingill’s and just across the freeway from us. Smith & Edwards, you may not realize, has been raising a mule herd for decades.

I wouldn’t tell you a tall tale! These mules have been here in the yard since we started making tack back in 1979. We feed them corn cobs, pemmican bites, leftover MREs, all kinds of things.

That turns them a little blue, just like the mule hide. (Eeyore is a distant bloodline member).

Some times we bring these mules packing with us. They’re great for elk quarters as well as bringing all types of fishing gear when we go out to Willard Bay!

Anyway, the reason we have Utah’s biggest blue mule herd is to keep up with demand for mule hide horn wraps. And the first question we get from buckaroos and ranch hands is, what’s the best way to install a mule hide wrap?

So, Marty made this video to see exactly how it’s done. Check out his saddle string tip!

Why use a Mule Hide Horn Wrap?

Wrapping your saddle horn with a strip of mule hide will protect it, but that’s just one benefit. Having this strip on your horn will act the opposite of a rubber dally: instead of gripping your rope, the mule hide practically turns to glass and allows you to feed the rope.

So how do you wrap a saddle horn with mule hide?

First, nail the end of the wrap to the bottom of your saddle. Then, bring the wrap up and over the swells. Here’s Marty’s tip: take your saddle strings and lay them under the wrap.

Then, wrap the mule hide around your horn, making sure to get the swells on your last loop. The last step of the wrap is pulling the end of the wrap underneath your first wrap, using Marty’s saddle string trick.

Then, you can use an old shovel handle with a strip of leather to smooth & tighten the wrap, getting rid of any bubbles.

Did you know? The blue color comes from the chrome tan process for these leather strips.

Get your mule hide horn wrap here. That’s just one item, though… We’ve got tons more saddle accessories, pack bags, grooming & show equipment, and country gifts here!

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3 Ways to Shape a Palm Leaf Hat

August 5, 2015 - posted by Rose Marion

Need some shade at the rodeo or playing after work? Our Western guy Marty can show you how to shape a palm leaf hat today in a Gus, Brick Top, & Buckaroo style.

He shapes these cowboy hats here at the store with a steamer, and you can shape yours with just a bucket of water at home – watch how!

Cowboy Hat Styles

In the Buckaroo style, you’ll have a smooth bowl-shaped indent in the crown, round all the way around. Use a bowl or a ball to get this shape. Then you can raise the middle of the indent over another round shape, like a smaller ball, from the inside. You can also shape a nice lip in the top of the crown. The Buckaroo typically has a pretty flat brim, too.

This is the style of hat that Tom wore for his Trek outfit – he shaped it himself!

A Brick Top hat means you have four corners in the brim of the hat, and an even indent.

The most common styles of hat Marty sees is a Cattleman’s crown and a Gus. The Cattleman is like the hat Marty’s wearing: two dents running from front to back. The Gus is just like the Cattleman’s, but the dents are only in the front of the hat.

How to Shape Your Hat at Home

To do this at home, fill a bucket with water. You can use cold water and let it soak a while, or lukewarm will speed it up a bit.

Start with the crown and use your fingers and thumbs to start the shape.

Move to the brim and shape your brim.

Now let it dry. You’re all done!

Get a Hat of your Own

Get your own palm leaf hat from Smith & Edwards! We carry a HUGE selection of Sunbody hats, which is our favorite brand of palm leaf hat. These hats are Guatemalan-made and hold their shape nice after you shape them. They come in lots of adult sizes as well as kids’ sizes.

Come in to Smith & Edwards in Farr West and we’ll shape one up for you, too!

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How to get to the Three Mile Creek Range in Perry, Utah

June 7, 2015 - posted by Rose Marion

We LOVE the Perry Three Mile Creek Shooting Sports Range!

It’s awesome being able to visit such a high-quality outdoor gun range, practically in our back yard.

The Three Mile Creek range features targets for handguns (bring your own for a fun time!), 50 yard targets, and long-range targets out to 1000 yards.

We get people asking us all the time, how do you get to the Perry gun range?

Well we could tell ya…. but why don’t we just show you?

How to get to the Three Mile Creek Gun Range:

The Three Mile Creek Gun Range is on the west side of I-15, just north of the Port of Entry. Take I-15 to exit 357 (Willard), turn east toward the mountains, and then turn left onto Highway 89.

From Highway 89, turn west onto 3000 S (marked with Perry City offices sign).
Travel down to the stop sign at 1200 W by the Perry City offices, and take a right.
Take the first left onto 2950 S (by the church). Take this road over the train tracks and under the overpass.
Turn left after the overpass, onto I-15 Frontage Road.
Take a right at the Three Mile Creek Range sign…. and you’re here!

“The gun range is a little out of the box, but we hope it’ll reach a lot of family and individuals, and help the sport of shooting.” – Perry mayor Karen Cronin

We really owe Perry City and the Rangemasters a huge THANK YOU for allowing us to host our annual Range Day event at the Perry Range. Thank you!

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Springfield Dueling Tree Competition – GoPro Video

May 28, 2015 - posted by Rose Marion

Mike Vause challenged me to a duel the other day….

He’d already bought the ammo, so I said OK!

We went to the Perry Three Mile Creek Range and squared off at the dueling tree.

(You’ll get to try your marksmanship skills at the Dueling Tree on Range Day!)

Watch the Competition from a First-Person Perspective

I didn’t know Mike would show up wearing a GoPro… you’ve got to take a look at it from his perspective!

About the Dueling Tree

The dueling tree’s designed for two shooters to swing the targets to the other side. If you’ve hit all of yours, your opponent can swing them back to you!

(We would have started out with equal gongs on a side… but we didn’t bring our waders)

Best of all, the Dueling Tree’s made out of good steel so it’s not just restricted to rimfire. Wahooo!

What we Shot

Both of us shot Springfield guns. I gotta tell you, I love these guns – I’m 5’2 with not a lot of grip strength, and I can rack the slide very easily. I also like the grip safety, it makes sure I’ve got a good proper grip on the gun and makes me feel more secure on it.

I shot the Springfield XDM 9mm in 5.25. Mike shot the Springfield XDM 45 in 4.5 with TFX TrueGlo Night Sights.