How To / DIY
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Ron Hazelton's Housecalls - Projects & Tips
Home improvement expert Ron Hazelton serves up solutions, ideas and inspiration for tackling a wide variety of projects around the house. Ron sees himself as a home improvement coach and his hands-on approach, easy-to-understand explanations, step-by-step instructions and visual demonstrations appeal to veteran and first time homeowners alike.
A Video Demonstration of How to Put up Lightweight Decorative Metallic Ceiling Tiles
In almost every painting job, there is some necessary wall patching and repair. A tool called a 5-in-1 tool has at least six uses that can make these repairs easier.
The sharp, straight edge is ideal for scraping out loose material and removing high spots.
The knife edge can also be used as a putty knife.
The pointed edge is…
Categories: Painting & Refinishing
Two Paint Brushing Techniques That Promise a Better Finish
This video demonstrates two techniques that will assure better results when painting with a brush. The first has to do with loading the brush with paint in such a way that the bristles are fully wet with paint but not so much so that there is dripping. The second is a…
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Whether you’re stripping paint or washing dishes, if you’re wearing rubber gloves they’re bound to get sweaty on the inside. To dry them means turning them inside out. Here’s a remarkably easy way to accomplish that.
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The Easy Way to Hang Wall Cabinets Straight and Level.
Don’t hang them individually. Instead fasten a run of two or three cabinets together on the floor or another level workspace. This allows you to adjust the mating surfaces for a near seamless fit…
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Nailing Blocks Can Solve a Wavy Wall Problem
Crooked walls and ceilings can make it challenging to install crown molding. Any attempt pull the molding into contact with the irregular surfaces will usually result in trim that looks twisted.
One way around this problem is to fashion small diagonal blocks and attach to molding to them.
Continue Reading
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Putting Reay-to-Assemble Cabinets Together Yourself
Whether it's kitchen cabinets, bookcases or furniture-grade cabinets one good way to save some money is to purchase knocked-down items and assemble them yourself. It's actually quite easy and, while it does take a bit of time, the end result is well worth it. Here, I showing a few simple tips that will make the…
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In older homes, or those that may have settlement issues. the joint where walls meet ceilings can often be anything but straight. I've found that if I try to force crown molding into a wavy environment, I may secure the molding but, more than likely, it will appear twisted or bent. Here's a simple technique that can help get you…
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A tipsy chair that rocks back and forth because one leg is shorter than the others can certainly be an annoyance. Usually, the solution to this problem is the addition of a spacer to the bottom of the offending short let, or the removal of a small amount of material from the longer legs. The truth is, though, this is…
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This Video Has No Narration ... The Images Speak for Themselves.
Keeping a cut Christmas tree hydrated while it's in your home insures is will look better, drop fewer needles and, most important of all, become less of a fire hazard. Interestingly, a freshly cut tree can often resist burning even when exposed to a direct flame. That…
Categories: Safety
This is not not necessarily a hammer replacement, but it's great for tight spaces that are hard or awkward to reach. This tool produces 3,600 impacts per minute and can drive up to 16d common nails. It's a speciality tool that can be invaluable for driving nails in hard-to-reach spots. It's also handy for attaching pipe clips, electrical boxes,…
Categories: Power Tools
My buddy and master tile setter, Armen Tavy sets down with me in front of the old shop stove and waxes poetic while I try to keep up with him on the harmonica.
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How do you make a hole in a piece of ceramic tile? Here are two different ways:
Draw the hole at the desired location then extend lines from the rim of the circle to the edge. Next carry these lines around to the back of the tile and reproduce them.
Continue Reading
Categories: General
The best way to fit ceramic tile around a door casing and jamb is to undercut the wood and then slip the tile underneath.
Place some cardboard on the floor to represent the thickness of the mortar that will eventually be on the backside of the tile. Put a piece of tile on top of the cardboard shape and cut…
Categories: General
When it comes to setting tile, be sure to choose the right trowel for the job.
Tile mortar trowels have notched edges. When held at an angle and passed over the mortar bed, they leave uniform rows or ridges that collapse when the tile is set in place, ensuring that the mortar makes uniform contact with the underside…
Categories: General
Good grout makes for a great tile job and here is the best way to apply grout:
After the grout is totally mixed, apply a generous amount to the tile surface and use a foam tile float to distribute it completely filling the tile joints all the way to the bottom by pressing firmly.
Once the joints are filled, hold…
Categories: General
Step-by-step demonstration of how to set up a miter saw to cut accurate compound angles for crown molding
Categories: Walls, Trimwork & Molding, Ceilings, Molding, Woodwork & Trim, Molding, Tools & Techniques, Techniques, Tools
Learn how to construct and install a built-in pantry cabinet with pull-out storage sections
Categories: Kitchen, Cabinets, Storage & Cabinets, Cabinets, Shelving
An easy to apply, wipe-on finish that colors and seals raw wood in a single application.
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Get perfect crown molding compound miters using this new electronic tool that takes out the guesswork and errors.
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Use this method to repair dry rot damage in a sill or frame and avoid having to replace the entire window frame and sill.
Categories: Exterior Doors & Windows, Exterior Windows
This Custom Made Cabinet Can Accommodate Many Different Sizes and Styles of Televisions as well as DVD and CD Players, Amplifiers and Cable Boxes
Categories: Woodwork & Trim, Furniture & Refinishing, Building, Storage & Cabinets, Bookcases, Cabinets
This Dual Slide-Out Unit Puts Food and Kitchen Items Within Easy Reach
Categories: Kitchen, Cabinets, Storage & Cabinets, Closets
A Long-Lasting, Maintenance-Free Gutter System That Stays Clean and Won't Clog
Categories: Roofs & Gutters, Gutters
Many people use a screwdriver to remove a hinge pin when taking off a door. They simply place the tip up under the head of the pin and then tap on the end with a hammer. But a screwdriver is not a striking tool, and using it that way can damage it.
Instead, Ron recommends using a standard…
Categories: Doors & Windows
When it comes to countertops, natural stone is a very popular choice. It has a classic and timeless look as well as a reputation for durability. But many stones, like marble for example, are subject to staining. Even granite has to be sealed periodically.
Now there is another choice. While this quartz resin countertop material looks just like…
Categories: Savers
Whenever you have to pull nails out of a sheet-rock wall, you have to be very careful that the hammer, as you pull, doesn't punch a hole through the sheet-rock. So here's a tip you can use. Take a wide putty knife, slip it behind the hammer, and use that to protect the surface.
If you have nails…
Categories: General, Hand Tools
People are often confused about what particle board is and when they should use it. In general, particle wood is a building material made from wood dust, chips and flakes that have been combined with resin and then formed into panels in a process using heat and pressure. But not all particle board is created equally, and it is…
Categories: General
Metal framing studs compare favorably with conventional wooden construction studs and are now available at your home improvement store. The steel studs are lightweight, strong and uniformly straight and true. Metal framed walls use a track or channel at the top and bottom to hold the studs in place, but the basic wall frame construction is the same. Working…
The modern tape measure is a pretty remarkable tool. Some of the wider ones, like the one used here, have a standout (the length at which they can extend and stay level, without collapsing) of almost 10 feet. That can make taking measurements much easier when you're working by yourself. But tape measures seem to have their limitations.
…
Categories: Measuring
The next time you consider installing new (or switching the old) cabinets in your kitchen, you'll want to be aware of your many options. This is an exciting time to do some cabinet work, as there's sort of a revolution of creative design and use of space.
These aren't just boxes with doors on the front anymore! When…
Categories: General
From time to time, you may notice that a drain in your home is emptying more and more slowly. Eventually, it may stop draining altogether! When that happens, it's time to do something about it.
Before you reach for the plunger, the snake, or some harsh chemicals -- or if you already have, to no avail -- there's…
Categories: Plumbing
Even though I have dozens of clamps in my workshop, there are still times when I don’t have exactly what I need and it’s time to do some creative clamping.
For example, if I have a piece of loose veneer in the center of a panel, it is nearly impossible to find a clamp with a throat deep…
Categories: Woodworking
A power drill/driver gets its name from its dual purposes. Sometimes, you use the tool as much for driving as for drilling, particularly when pre-drilling pilot holes on hard materials or using a countersunk bit to recess the screw heads. How much time is wasted as you load the drill bit into the chuck, drill a hole, remove the…
Categories: Power Tools
Like beauty, what is and isn't a weed is often in the eye of the beholder, but a weed is generally defined as a plant that is undesirable, unattractive, troublesome, or growing where it is not wanted. How do you get rid of those plants without damaging the ones that you do want? An arsenal of products that fight…
Categories: Lawn & Garden
Restoring grass to bare spots on your lawn caused by piles of leaves or objects remaining on the grass too long can best be accomplished by overseeding--as opposed to bare spots caused by insects and diseased grass that require a cure before restoration. Here are a few steps to ensure the best results for your efforts.
- Start…
Categories: Lawn & Garden
If you're fed up with pictures that hang askew at odd angles, well, here's my technique for hanging pictures level, so they'll stay level.
Begin by holding the picture where you want it to hang and make a small pencil mark along the top of the frame at the center. Spread your thumb and forefinger until they're five…
Categories: General
If your home has any older, built-in cabinets or wooden furniture, you may have a problem with sticking drawers.
One of the things that can cause a drawer to stick is when too much paint builds up on the side of the drawer. In this case, the side of the drawer rubs up against the cabinet, causing the…
Categories: General
Ron's family's favorite cookie jar, a personalized New York taxi, was accidentally dropped, leaving a pretty big hunk missing. They were able to salvage some of the parts but not all of them, so this project required more than simply gluing together the pieces.
One of the biggest challenges in repairing an odd shape object like this is…
Carbon monoxide is often called the silent killer because it is an odorless, colorless gas that can be deadly. That's why it is so important to install carbon monoxide alarms in your home.
You can purchase a battery operated, wall-mounted unit, or one that plugs into any standard electrical outlet.
On this second type, the digital readout…
Categories: Safety
If the water heater in your home was built between 1993 and 1996 and you are beginning to find small pieces of plastic in your faucet aerators, shower nozzles and washing machine supply tube, or if your water temperature is suddenly not as warm as it used to be, the source of the problem may be your water heater's…
Categories: Plumbing
If you have a young assistant around the house who's interested in helping out with projects, you may wish to give them a little practice time with basic, blunt hand tools.
Hammering sharp nails into a block of wood with a heavy hammer is a dangerous prospect for a child. With careful supervision and the right materials, however,…
Categories: General
Benjamin Forstner invented this clever drill bit back in the mid-1800s. It has a cutting rim or teeth around the perimiter and a small spur in the center.
The bits come in a variety of sizes, up to two inches or more in diameter.
The idea behind this bit is to bore exceptionally clean holes that leave…
Categories: Power Tools
Whoever invented the paint roller did painters a really big favor. With a roller, you can apply paint up to four times faster than you can with a brush.
What generally makes one roller different from the next is the length of the nap, which can be as short as 3/16ths of an inch or as long as…
Categories: Painting & Refinishing
There's an important test that everybody with an automatic garage door opener should conduct from time to time.
Most folks think their garage door opener is working properly if they push the button and the door goes up and down. But there's another important factor. Garage door openers are equipped with a safety feature that stops the door…
Categories: Safety
Keeping a fire extinguisher in the kitchen is a great idea, because most home fires start in the cooking area where heat sources and flammable materials such as grease can ignite and quickly jump out of control. Some conventional fire extinguishers are large and bulky, making them hard to store in a handy place in the kitchen. In contrast,…
Categories: Safety
Few things add a sense of beauty and luxury to a home like hardwood floors. The easiest hardwood-style floors to install come prefinished, and fall into three basic categories.
The first is solid hardwood. It's usually nailed down through a wood substrate and because it is solid top to bottom, it can last for literally generations.
The…
Categories: General
Some people find that the sound of sliding utensils when they open and close kitchen drawers can be quite annoying.
A non slip shelf liner works very well to prevent that.
If you have several drawers of the same size then cut the liners by first making a cardboard or plywood template. Place the template on top…
Categories: Organization
If you're planning a new kitchen, you know you've got a lot of design choices to make. That's why it's helpful to shop around and look at a variety of room sets, countertop materials, cabinet woods and colors.
Perhaps the most useful visualization tool of all is the kitchen design department at a modern home improvement center. Just…
Categories: General
Watching songbirds as they visit your property is one of the joys of having a backyard and garden. Their distinctive and musical calls greet you each time you step outside, while their antics and squabbles offer a good laugh. Birds also perform an important ecological service in reducing insect populations and dispersing the seeds of plants and trees. Simple…
Categories: Lawn & Garden
Hand-held finishing sanders use a quarter sheet of sandpaper. Each new sheet of sand paper has to be divided into four equal pieces. Using a straight edge to mark it and scissors or a utility knife to cut it will work--if you do not mind dulling the scissors and the knife in short order. Why not make a dedicated…
Categories: Workshop
There are a couple of ways to fill countersunk screw holes. The easiest way is to purchase buttons, which are available at most home improvement centers or woodworking supply shops. Simply put a little glue on the button to hold it in place, position it into the hole and give a tap with a hammer. This type of plug…
Categories: Woodworking
When placed on a laminate or wood floor, a rug can easily slip out from underneath as you walk on it. This can be a hazard. This simple tip will show you how to stop rugs from slipping.
Categories: Safety
Moldings are unsurpassed for adding interest and architectural detail to an otherwise plain room or exterior. Traditionally they have been made of wood, but more recently, you can find molding made out of other materials like vinyl PVC. If there's a molding project in your future, you might want to consider some of the alternatives to wood.
Vinyl…
Categories: Woodworking
We could all agree that home heating costs are going straight up. Which is why keeping that expensive warm air inside is very important. When chimney's are not in use that expensive heat is escaping straight up them. One would think closing the damper would be enough to keep cold air out and warm air in, but not necessarily…
Leaf blowers, lawn mowers, chain saws, power tools and shop machinery can all make a lot of noise. Over time, this type of constant noise can be damaging to your hearing and it is not a bad idea to use some type of hearing protection.
There are several different styles to choose from, but regardless of which style…
Categories: Safety
Sheet metal is somewhat of an art, but it's also important to have the right tools. Three different pairs of snips, for example, look the same but have distinctly different purposes.
One pair is intended for making straight cuts, another pair is made for right hand curves, and finally, yet another pair is designed for cutting left curves.…
Categories: Hand Tools
Edging blocks are specially made for outlining and defining flowerbeds and gardens and they come in many size, shapes, and colors. They do for the garden what a picture frame does for a painting. This demonstration presents a few of the available styles and offers installation tips, as well.
- Define the edge of the flowerbed with a…
Categories: Lawn & Garden
A typical band clamp consists of a strap and some type of screw or ratcheting mechanism for securing the band and applying pressure.
Sometimes referred to as a web clamp, this tool is ideally suited for objects with surfaces that are not parallel to each other; where there are multiple planes involved; or where clamping pressure…
Categories: General
There's nothing like candlelight for a warm intimate dinner. Unfortunately, candles sometimes produce a little bit of a mess. But if you do have some wax drips, don't worry, it may be easier to clean up than you think.
Just take a regular hair dryer and heat up the wax.
Then a simple plastic credit card should…
Categories: Savers
When it comes to circular saw blades, you have a lot of options. There's no need to feel overwhelmed, though. Here's the "buzz" on choosing the right circular saw blade for your job.
Smaller, 5-inch diameter to 7.25-inch diameter blades are usually used on handheld circular saws.
Larger, 10-inch diameter and 12-inch diameter blades are typically for…
Categories: Power Tools
If you've looked at lighting products lately, you may have noticed that fluorescent tubes have gotten smaller. The new T8 is designed to be used with an electronic ballast, which gives it several advantages. It uses less power, puts out up to 25 percent more light, and can last twice as long as the conventional 12. Also when it's…
Categories: Electrical & Lighting
When you need to draw a small circle, up to a foot in diameter, a compass is the perfect tool. But if you need a bigger circle, or if you don't have a compass, you can make your own, custom-tailored to the job.
First, drill a small hole in the end of a strip of wood. Next, drive…
Many people are thinking of going "green" by using products and practices that are environmentally safe or at least kinder to the environment. There is no national standard for what is "green" and what is not--so, what is meant by manufacturers who market their products as "natural?" One company--Clorox, whose name is practically synonymous with bleach--has set its own…
Categories: General
NOTE: For more information on wireless light switches and lamp modules like the one used in the project click here.
Lamps with switches on the cord can be an inconvenient part of an evening ritual. Installing a wall switch to control these lamps can be a great solution - but in some cases, wiring a new…
Categories: Electrical & Lighting, Organization
Compact Florescent Lamps (CFL's) , requre a dimmer designed specifically for this kind of bulb. Many of these dimmers can also be used with conventional incandescent and halogen bulbs. For more information click here.
Three-Way Dimmer Switches: I haven't done a video on 3-Way Switches…
Categories: Electrical & Lighting, General
An inspection hole will allow you to see where pipes and wires are located behind the wall. A cleanly cut inspection hole can easily be patched once your work in the wall is complete, or if it turns out that you don't want to make an opening there after all.
When you have identified and marked the boundaries of your…
With this hanging system from Hangman Products, you can hang just about anything on the wall - heavy, light, large or small.
This double-headed screw called a bear claw hanger is the heart of the system. The screw has a self-tapping tip and specially designed threads. No pilot hole is required. Just press the sharp tip into the wall......and…
Categories: General
There aren't many things that are more frustrating than a stripped out screw head. You can't drive it in and you can't back it out. But there is a solution -- a new screw removal tool, called a Grabit, which has a reamer on one end and the remover on the other end.
To use the Grabit, first…
Categories: Power Tools, Savers
The weather may be beautiful today, but extreme weather and natural disasters can come upon us quickly and unexpectedly. That's why it's important to have a supply of safe drinking water available during emergencies. The other day, I came across a disposable plastic bladder designed to fit in a bathtub that guarantees you’ll have up to 100 gallons of…
Categories: Safety
When it comes to driving small fasteners like this, there hasn't been a perfect way to start them. You can use your fingers, but in many cases, your fingers may be bigger than the nail, which makes hammering a tricky proposition.
Needle nose pliers are a decent solution, but they can cause the nail to tip fairly easily. A comb…
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The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that every year, 47,000 children are injured in home playground accidents. 80 percent of those accidents are associated with falls.
It's important to install a shock-absorbing surface under all play sets. Mulch, sand and pea gravel are commonly used for this application.
There is a product on the market that is actually much softer…
Categories: Safety
In my workshop, I'm fortunate to have a generous collection of clamps. But when it comes to clamping round objects, like the handle on an antique doll stroller or the shattered pedestal on a table base, conventional clamps aren't necessarily the best solution. I've found that a bicycle inner tube can be a perfect clamping tool for certain jobs.
To…
Categories: Woodworking
Heating oil and natural gas prices are skyrocketing, and that means that homeowners are going to be facing higher winter heating bills than ever. Some are already investigating alternative heating sources, like this pellet stove from Harmon.
Now instead of burning split wood, these stoves burn wood pellets made of compressed wood, primarily sawdust and chips. When this hopper is…
Categories: Savers
Although painting a wall is something nearly anyone can do, there are things you can do to save time and give more uniform results when rolling paint onto walls.
Instead of putting paint in a pan, put it in a 5-gallon bucket. You can mix more than one gallon and if there is any color variation between the paint, it…
Categories: Painting & Refinishing
Your lawn can only be as good as the earth in which it grows. If you grass is not looking as healthy as it could, maybe it is time to test the soil. Basic tests are available to see whether the soil is too acidic or too alkaline, to detect levels of soluble salt that can come from lawn…
Categories: Lawn & Garden
For more information on cyanoacyrlate adhesives similar to the one used in this video click here.
Click here for information on various types of CA nozzles and tips.
These links go to Bob Smith Industries which does not sell direct to consumers. However, the site does have a good Continue Reading
Categories: General
A Lawn and Garden Machine for All Seasons
Whether you call it a riding lawn mower or a lawn tractor, the modern versions of this equipment can do a lot more than just cut grass. Many people think first of riding versus walking as the foremost benefit of a lawn tractor--or the speed at which one can mow.…
Categories: Lawn & Garden
Whether your carpet is new or old, first aid for carpet spills and stains is pretty much the same. The first rule is to act quickly. The longer a stain sits, the more difficult it is to remove. The second thing to remember is that not all stains are created equally. You should use a cleaning technique that is…
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Note: The video article has been updated in response to many of the viewer submitted suggestions in the comments section below. Thank you.
Over time, minerals suspended in your incoming household water supply can settle to the bottom of your water heater and build up quite an accumulation. The harder your water, the more quickly this can happen.
For gas…
Categories: Plumbing
Organizing food storage containers can be really frustrating. If you nest the containers, it's hard to find a top that matches a bottom. If you keep the lids and the bottoms together, on the other hand, and stack them, then they're likely to fall all over the place when you open the drawer. Well, we've got a solution for…
Categories: Organization
Garbage disposers range in price from just over $50 to nearly $300. What's the difference? The short answer is power, quietness and construction material. More expensive disposers can handle tougher jobs and tend to have more sound dampening insulation. There are two basic types of disposers: those that turn on and off with a wall switch and others that…
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Whenever you take something apart, whether it's a piece of furniture or a small appliance, you always want to make sure that you can get it back together again. Here's a trick that should help.
As you disassemble something, Ron recommends that you take the fasteners, the screws and the bolts and place them in the edge of…
Categories: Organization
Water that’s discharged from your downspout can saturate the ground near your basement wall or foundation. Now over time that can cause settling and cracking, a very expensive proposition. So the idea is to carry that water away from the foundation. Here are three very simple ways to do that. This is a splash block. It’s job is to…
Categories: Lawn & Garden
One of the secrets to getting a strong glue joint is to spread the glue evenly before joining the surfaces. A great tool to do this with is hidden where you may never think to look...right inside an ordinary foam brush.
If you peel away the foam on the outside, what you'll find inside is the perfect plastic…
Categories: Adhesives, Woodworking
Nothing can make a room come alive like paint, especially when it's applied using faux finishing techniques. Here are a few techniques that will add pizazz to any room.
Now, this is not just paint, ithis is a latex paint, mixed with a clear glaze.. And basically, all that we're going to do is ball up that damp…
Categories: General, Painting & Refinishing
Product Information - Click here for more information on the pleated paper shades demonstrated in this video.
Imagine that you've just moved into your home, you have a lot of bare windows, and you need some privacy, but you don't want to be rushed into making a decision about window treatments.
The answer is a…
Categories: Doors & Windows
If you're like Ron, you are always looking for the perfect place to store nails, screws and small pieces of hardware. Here's a great idea you might want to try.
Disposable food containers are very inexpensive, they're transparent so you can see the contents easily on the inside, and you can write on the outside with a felt…
Categories: Organization
Got a big hunk of concrete missing out of your steps like this? Well, it looks worse than it is; it is actually not that hard to repair.
To help insure that our replacement corner will not break off I begin by boring three holes into the step by using a hammer drill. Into these I will insert…
Categories: General, Lawn & Garden
Using a hole saw is the fastest and easiest way to create a hole up to several inches in diameter. A hole saw has three parts: an arbor that attaches to a standard drill, a pilot bit, and the hole saw itself. The saw will fit into almost any drill but one that will accommodate a 3/8" shaft is…
Categories: Power Tools
A pilot hole is a small hole that is drilled into the wood to allow a screw to go in more easily. But there are times, like when a child is helping with a project, that it makes sense to drill pilot holes for nails too. A small pilot hole drilled into the wood makes the hammering go a…
Categories: Power Tools, Woodworking
You know, a shower massage like this one not only makes for a more luxurious bath but it can make it easier to clean a shower or a tub and if you've got pets like I do, it's great for dog washing. And making the conversion from a standard showerhead like this to one like this, is really very…
Categories: Plumbing
A pressure washer, simply put, is a pump that boosts normal household pressure of 60 - 70 pounds per square inch up to 1,000 pounds per square inch, or more. The resulting high pressure water stream generates a cleaning action that can be used to remove loose paint, mold, grime, dust, mud, and dirt from surfaces and objects such…
Categories: Lawn & Garden
A workshop can be a natural attraction for young children. Make sure that whenever children are in a space where there are power tools, an adult is with them. As added protection, store your tools well out of their reach.
While not a substitute for supervision, threading a key ring through the hole in the plug makes it…
How can we get this light, over this table, without going to a lot of trouble and expense? Here’s how:
I’ve stretched a couple of pieces of string across the table to find the exact center. And then hung a third piece of string with some washers on it right here. And attached that to the ceiling up…
Categories: Electrical & Lighting
You know, it's rare that you get through any tile job without having to cut at least one curved tile like the one for this corner right back here. Well, here are two ways to do it very easily. First, you'll need to draw the area that needs to be cut away and mark the part that you want…
Categories: General, Hand Tools
Adjustable C clamps are some of the most useful tools in your workshop. Here are a few tips to get even more mileage out of them:
To hold a piece of material in a vertical position, take one clamp and attach it to the material and then use a second clamp to attach the first clamp to the…
Categories: Hand Tools, Woodworking
It can be a bit annoying not to mention unsafe, when a light bulb breaks leaving just a base in the socket. Here's a simple and safe way to get it out.
Take a bar of soap and insert the corner into the socket. Give it a few turns and that base will unscrew. Make sure that the…
As soon as this cut is completed the whole panel is going to drop out, which will cause splintering and alot of noise. Neither of which anyone wants.
To prevent this from happening, simply take a couple of blocks of scrap wood and nail them to the inside panel.
Now, when the cut is finished…
Categories: Woodworking
In the past, in order to keep a screen door or storm door in the open position, you had to slide a washer along the shaft, which can be very awkward, especially when you are carrying a big load.
In this new design, all you have to do is push a button and the door stays open in…
Categories: Doors & Windows
Sometimes cleaning up from a project can take more time than the project itself. When you are drilling a hole in a wall, for instance, it only takes a second to drill, but then all that dust falls to the floor. Ron shows us an easy solution.
Simply tape a paper bag on the wall just below where…
Categories: Power Tools
Replacing your kitchen faucet is a job you might be reserving for the plumber. But the fact is you can do it yourself. Begin by turning off the hot and cold water supply at the valves. Now, if there is one tool you’ll need for this job it’s this. It’s called a basin wrench. Here’s how it’s used. The…
Categories: Plumbing
If you want to get a good paint job, well, you’ve got to use a good brush. And if you’re going to spend a fair amount of money on a brush like this, you want to make sure it lasts as long as possible, and the key to that is making sure you clean it well after every use.…
Categories: Painting & Refinishing, Savers
You know, there's nothing that gets me more excited than a cool new tool. And this one from Ridgid, well, it certainly qualifies. It's called the SeeSnake Micro Inspection Camera. Now this is a small TV camera right here and there are two LED lights. And what this allows me to do is to see into places that normally…
Categories: General, Hand Tools, Safety
Sometimes, when you're working with moldings, you want to cut just a tiny sliver off the end of the piece to get that perfect fit. But it doesn't it doesn't always work as planned.
Far too often, about half of the way through the cut, you find that your saw tends to slip off the end of the…
Categories: Power Tools, Woodworking
If you have a triangle with one 4-foot side, one 3-foot side and a hypotenuse (diagonal) of exactly 5 feet, then the angle opposite the hypotenuse will be exactly 90-degrees.
First, stake the location where you want the 90-degree angle and attach two string lines. Attach one of the two lines to a second stake, where you want…
Categories: Measuring
Knowing when and how to use a fire extinguisher can be crucially important. Make sure that everyone is on their way out of the house and the fire department has been called before you attempt to put out a fire with a fire extinguisher. Then, remember this word. Pass. P-A-S-S. P. Pull the pin. A. Aim at the base…
Categories: Safety
A 1/32” gap around the edge of an entry door can let in as much cold air as a two-inch hole smack in the center. Imagine how that would feel on a wintry day.
The good news is you can eliminate drafty leaks around exterior doors with this simple-to-apply weatherstripping that installs in minutes and lasts for years. …
Categories: Doors & Windows
If you love the look of hardwood flooring but you’ve been concerned about how well it will hold up with pets, kids or in high traffic areas then this is something you’ve really got to check out. This is laminate flooring made of the same material as laminated kitchen counter tops. It is extremely tough, you wouldn’t consider doing…
Categories:
Once you've rolled a surface, come back and do what's called striking off. What that means is to take your roller, begin at the top and go all the way to the bottom in one long continuous stroke. Doing this will take out any roller marks and leave you with a smooth, clean, professional looking surface.
Categories: Painting & Refinishing
RON HAZELTON: You know, whether you’re making a wooden carving or you simply want to cut a piece of string, having a good sharp edge on your pocket knife will simply make the tool work better. And who better to show us how to sharpen a pocket knife than world class bird carver, Rich Smoker. Rich, what’s your technique?
…Categories: Workshop
If you need to make several repetitive crosscuts, but you don't have a power miter saw, you can still get very accurate results using a circular saw and a speed square.
Use the speed square to draw your cut line and then use that same speed square as an edge guide. Most saws have a notch that shows…
Categories: Power Tools
You know, outdoor swing sets like these are great places for your kids to enjoy some carefree play, but it doesn't mean that they are free of care. Let me give you some tips on how to keep them safe, starting with the play surface right down here. The whole idea is that this should be soft enough to…
Categories: Lawn & Garden, Safety
I’ve been reflecting on a problem. What I’ve got here is a heavy mirror and an old plaster wall--75 years old. Now what’s the most secure way to hang this? In this case, the original hanging hardware has to go, so I remove it. Then I measure an equal distance down both sides, drill pilot holes and attach hanger…
Categories: General
Well, is it a drill or is it a saw? Well, they call it a hole saw so I guess it's a bit of both. In any event, it's a terrific tool for drilling larger diameter holes through a variety of material. However, when you're boring through thick soft wood like this, well, you can run into a couple…
Categories: Power Tools
Driving a large screw into hard wood like oak can be difficult, but these tips will make it easier.
First, be sure to choose the right driver tip for your drill. There are three different sized Phillip bits. Number one is for very small screws, number two is for medium screws and number three is for large screws.…
Categories: Woodworking
You know, when you think about it, there are few things more beautiful in the evening than candlelight. But sometimes, what you’re left with the next morning, well it’s not so pretty, wax drippings on your furniture. Now, there are two ways to get rid of these, the hot method and the cold method. Let’s start with this one. …
Categories: General
Single pane windows can be one of the biggest energy-wasters in your home. But heat-control window film can help change that. To install the film, start by cleaning the glass with a solution of warm water and a few drops of dishwashing detergent. The best and fastest way to remove the soapy water is with a squeegee. Roll out…
Categories: Doors & Windows, Savers
Now here's a hanging technique that will guarantee that your picture ends up where you want it and that it doesn't tip.
- Place a short piece of masking tape on the top of the frame near the middle. Then, locate the exact center of the frame and mark it on the tape.
- Hold the artwork on…
Categories: General
Now here’s a tip that’ll keep your tree fresh throughout the holiday. Before bringing it indoors cut about an inch of the trunk. Then place the tree in warm water and give it a chance to take a long drink. Choose a tree stand with a large reservoir and check the water level often. Cut trees can soak up…
Measuring tools can become dull, dirty and rusted over time, but there's an easy way to refurbish them.
Clean the tool with a lubricant and a nonabrasive scouring pad. Wipe the lubricant off completely.
Next, apply a coat of automotive paste wax, let it dry and buff it off.
A tool that once looked like this…
…Categories: Hand Tools, Savers
Outdoor lighting is not only useful for illuminating your home, but also for adding security and beauty. The soft and sometimes colored exterior lights lend an enchantment to trees, plants, walkways and other man-made features of your home, lending them an aura quite different from their daytime appearances. Exterior lighting is available in low-voltage and solar models that are…
Categories: Electrical & Lighting, Lawn & Garden
If you find yourself with an unsightly gouge in a piece of wood but you're out of wood filler, it is not that difficult to make your own!
First, take a small container and put in some wood glue. Add some sawdust from the same wood that you've been working on and stir it up thoroughly until you…
Categories: Savers, Woodworking
If you like to do woodworking projects and especially cabinet making, then chances are you're gonna be driving a lot of screws. So that means drilling pilot holes, counter sinks and driving the screws themselves in. Now there are a couple ways to do this.
The first way is the triple tool time-consuming better not be in a…
Categories: Power Tools
I recently punched a hole in this wall while removing the backsplash of a countertop. But fixing it is actually easier than it may seem.
First, I cut a rectangular drywall patch and place it over the damaged area, tracing around it with a felt pen. Next, I cut out the shape with a drywall saw. Now, I'm…
Categories: General
One of the keys to getting a professional looking paint job is starting out with paint that is free of particles like dust or dried pigments. That means you probably want to strain your paint. One of the best and least expensive ways to do this is with a pair of old pantyhose.
Stretch an undamaged section over…
Categories: Painting & Refinishing
Ron's Note: There are split-collar drill stops available that clamp around the drill bit by tightening a set screw using an Allen wrench. Here are three sources. Prices range from just over $10 to more than $30. Be sure and read the reviews on the less expensive model ... opinions are mixed.
The Japanese saws demonstrated in this video are the Dozuki Saw and the Ryoba Saw both available from The Japan Woodworker. Note: some of these saws are professional grade and can be rather pricey. If you check out this site, scroll down the page to view some of the less expensive models nearer…
Categories: Hand Tools
Insulating both hot and cold water pipes is fairly simple with products marketed today, and there are several very good reasons to protect them. Insulation stops cold water pipes from sweating when moisture in the air condenses on their cold surfaces and drips in problem areas. It prevents hot water from losing its heat as it flows through the…
If you've ever worked with wallboard joint compound, spackle or other similar products, you know how these materials tend to dry out between jobs leaving a lumpy mess that's practically useless. Ron shares a simple solution to prevent this annoying problem.
Use a putty knife to level the top of the material inside the container and then add…
Categories: Painting & Refinishing, Savers
You know, after several years of use, a door latch can simply wear out, especially if it's in a high traffic area like this. Or maybe you just want to change your decor with a new latch. Whatever your reason taking out an old latch and putting in a new one, can really be done in just a few…
Categories: Doors & Windows
One of the darkest spots in your kitchen is actually where you most need light. And that’s right here on the counter top, underneath these wall cabinets. The cabinets, and sometimes your body, create shadows, making it difficult to see under here. But there is a way to get light here without spending a lot of money, or a…
Categories: Electrical & Lighting
You know, if your washing machine is located inside your house, say up on the second floor, or in a laundry room or in a kitchen like this one is, its a potential hazard, a flood that’s waiting to happen. In most cases, water is supplied to your washing machine through rubber hoses which are subjected to water pressures…
Categories: Plumbing
Here's a very useful tip to keep your tools from sliding around in a tool tray or drawer, while also helping prevent them from rusting.
Take a piece of scrap carpet, and cut it to fit the bottom of the drawer or tray.
Spray it lightly with lubricant and place your tools inside.
Your tools will…
Categories: Organization
When I'm removing a door casing, a lot of the nails come out with the trim. But a lot more also fall to the floor because I have to take them out individually. Now if I want to do a really quick cleanup, this is a handy tool. It's actually a round magnet, and all I have to do…
Categories: Hand Tools, Workshop
If you've been to your local home improvement store lately, you probably know that there is a dizzying array of caulks and sealants to choose from. But most of these products fall into one of three categories: acrylic latex, kitchen and bath caulk, and silicones or elasto-polymers.
Acrylic latex caulk, designed to fill cracks and crevices in woodwork…
Categories: General
The first step in this and any electrical job is to turn the power off at the circuit breaker or fuse panel. To prevent anyone from turning the circuit on accidentally, put a piece of tape on the breaker. Next, remove the screws that are holding the switch plate. Now here is where I like to use this tester…
Categories: Electrical & Lighting
Screws like these, which were originally developed for drywall and wallboard, have become increasingly popular for woodworking projects, partly because they can often be put into materials like this soft pine without even drilling a pilot hole. But you should be aware of one thing. Even though these screws can tighten up on the head like this, they may…
If you are like most people, you are probably intimidated by the idea of taking on a small plumbing job. But it may be much easier than you think, especially if you use plastic pipes and fittings. All you really need to do is cut the pipe and then attach or weld it to the fittings.
For cutting…
Categories: Plumbing
Now if you've got trees like I do, well, from time to time you're bound to have to cut off a branch or two. Now you could use one of these or even this, but there are a couple of relatively new tools out there that can make the job go a whole lot easier.
An 18-volt nickel…
Categories: Lawn & Garden, Power Tools, Woodworking
If you subscribe to the belief that beauty is in the details, then upgrading your baseboards, door casings and other interior wood trim might be a good investment. However, removing and replacing interior trimwork can be a costly proposition. An alternate solution is to apply additional strips of decorative molding on top of what's already there. Small quarter-round, half-round,…
Categories: General, Woodworking
You know, nothing makes an otherwise attractive bathroom more unattractive than an ugly line of caulk right here at the top of the tub. Well, there’s an easy way to fix it.
Start by putting a fresh blade in a utility knife and then cut out the old caulk. You’ll want to make two cuts -- the first…
Categories: General
They say that beauty is only skin deep. That's particularly true for wood because it is the surface of wood that you see. Nothing can effect that surface more than sanding.
A hacksaw blade mounted to a piece of wood makes a great sandpaper cutter.
Fold your sandpaper into thirds. Use one side of the folded paper…
Categories: Woodworking
The most vulnerable part of a tile countertop is the grout between the tiles, especially near the sink right here, where it gets a lot of water and a lot of scrubbing. In fact, this countertop, if you look closely here, you'll see the grout has practically worn away. That means that water can go between the tiles and…
Categories: General
A good rental center has a stock of professional grade tools, which means you can get the job done more easily with more professional results. But when should you consider purchasing a tool instead of renting?
If your project is refinishing your wood floors, jack-hammering concrete or setting a dozen posts for a new fence, you'll probably want…
Categories: Power Tools, Savers
Some projects, like putting up a storage shed, involve a lot of nailing. This nailing can be done with a hammer, but can go much more quickly and easily using a nail gun, a tool that is no longer just for professionals.
You can purchase a starter set, including a compressor, hose, and a small nail gun for…
Categories: Power Tools
You can work safely on an extension ladder if you use it properly. Here are a few tips:
To set the ladder up, put the bottom against the wall and then walk it vertically, hand over hand like this until the top is against the wall. Then grab the bottom and pull it out.
Here's a simple…
The great thing about frosted glass like this is that it gives you privacy but it also allows light to come through. It’s perfect for a bathroom like this or for a glass surrounding an entry door. And the good news is, you can get the effects of frosted glass without actually having to replace the window. Here’s how.
…Categories: Doors & Windows
You know, sliding glass doors that stick like this can certainly be annoying and sometimes even dangerous. Now oftentimes it's possible to correct a problem like this with a simple adjustment. You can remove many sliding aluminum doors by lifting them straight up. The top of the door will go into an aluminum channel in the top of the…
Categories: Doors & Windows
When it comes to choosing a ceiling fan, it's largely a matter of personal preference. But there is one thing you should keep in mind. You need to match the size of the fan to the size of the room. For example, if your room is 10 by 10, you'll need a three foot fan, if it's 15 by…
Categories: Electrical & Lighting
Outdoor furniture is very durable. It will last for years, but it does mean some care and maintenance. Here's a five-step process that will keep it looking its very best:
- Sand it. That will take off any discolorations, stains or raised grain.
- Dust the surface with a soft cloth or a brush.
- Pour a sealer…
Categories: Lawn & Garden, Painting & Refinishing
Let These Smart Devices Do the Work
In yard and garden, watering enough to make the grass and other plants look good and stay healthy without wasting water is a challenge. Adding one or more modern water controlling devices to your hose is an easy method to control both the volume and schedule of your water use. These…
Categories: Lawn & Garden
Have you finished a caulking job and discovered that you still have a significant amount of caulk left in the tube that you don't want to waste? This simple tip can preserve that unused caulk... at least for a while.
Take an electrical wire nut and simply screw it on the end of the caulk tube.
This…
Categories: Painting & Refinishing, Savers
When you're filling nail holes in unfinished wood, use a color-matched wood putty. Apply it to the wood with a putty knife, let it dry and then, sand it smooth.
Categories: Woodworking
Toddlers see a lamp cord as a way of pulling themselves up to a standing position. What they don't realize of course is that, in pulling themselves up, they stand a good chance of pulling the lamp over on top of themselves.
Here are some things you can do to prevent cords like this from causing injuries to…
Categories: Safety
Sometimes, having a magnetic screwdriver is very helpful: when driving a screw into wood, for example. Other times, though, such as when working in a metal cabinet, it can make a task more difficult.
The good news is that you can magnetize and demagnetize almost any screwdriver by using a household magnet.
To magnetize a screwdriver, place…
Categories: Hand Tools
You don’t have to live with a doorbell that you don’t like. It’s easy enough to change it. Keep in mind that while it’s operated by low voltage it’s still an electrically operated device so you make to make sure to turn off the power at the circuit breaker. Many doorbell covers like this one simply pop off some…
Categories: Doors & Windows
Product Information
The current version of the product demonstrated in this video is the KV SHELF ANCHOR. It's available from AMAZON and WOODWORKERS' HARDWARE..
I know there are a lot of shelving systems out there and…
Categories: General
For More Information on Cyanoacrylate Instant Adhesives
Visit the Bob Smith Industries website
The toughest thing about gluing something like this broken china dish is holding the pieces together while the glue dries. Cases like this are a perfect application for cyanoacrylades, or "instant glues."
Cyanoacrylade adhesives are available in a variety of thicknesses.…
Categories: General
Here's a great tip for storing dowels and short pieces of small molding, rods, tubing and other small diameter items using different lengths of ordinary plastic downspouts.
Cut pieces of downspout to various lengths, plug the ends with a wooden block and attach the sections to a panel, the side of a workbench or directly to a wall using standard…
Categories: Organization
Get your tools out where you can see them with pegboard storage. You can change it around as you like, making it convenient and very flexible. However, a common problem with pegboard hooks is that they come loose or fall out when removing tools. Here's the solution.
This new product is a tool holder made by Talon. It…
Categories: Organization, Workshop
If you work for any length of time at all in rubber gloves, you know how sweaty they can get on the inside. Here's a trick to make sure they get fully dried . . . and to get those pesky inside-out fingers to pop out.
First take the gloves off by pulling the cuff. This turns them inside out…
Categories: General
In almost every painting job, there is some necessary wall patching and repair. A tool called a 5-in-1 tool has at least six uses that can make these repairs easier.
The sharp, straight edge is ideal for scraping out loose material and removing high spots.
The edge can also be used as a putty knife.
The pointed edge is used…
Categories: Hand Tools, Painting & Refinishing
Drilling a perfectly perpendicular hole can be a real challenge, but Ron has a great solution. For about $25 you can buy an accessory that will turn your hand drill into a portable drill press. Just take your drill bit out of your hand drill and attach your hand drill to the portable drill press. Then just go ahead and…
Categories: Power Tools, Woodworking
Here are a handful of simple but important steps you can take to make sure the tree you buy is fresh to start with and stays that way as long as possible.
Of course we all love the festivities of the holiday season, However some of these same holiday traditions can increase the risk of a fire in our home. …
Categories: Safety
Product Information
Artists acrylic paints similar to those demonstrated in this project are available from art supply stores and online.
Patching unwanted holes in glazed tile like this can be a tricky proposition. Here's a solution that may not always be perfect, but will make a big improvement. This is polyester resin, often used to repair car bodies. We'll…
Categories: General
Product Information
For more information on the Ryobi laser level demonstrated in this video click here to go to the product page at The Home Depot.
Laser Levels In the last few years, laser levels have gotten more compact and less expensive. Ron demonstrates a state-of-the-art version from Ryobi.
Built into the base of this…
Categories: General
I started replacing some rotted woodwork down here caused by a water leak. Now the baseboard was no problem, I took off the old piece here, and I happened to have a matching piece, which will go right in here. But I don’t have a matching piece for this casing, and I don’t want to replace the entire door frame,…
Categories: Doors & Windows, General
No matter how careful you are when you pour paint out of a can, you probably are almost always left with drips on the outside and paint filling the rim. But it really doesn't have to be this way. Ron found three replacement lids with built in spouts that eliminate the mess.
The first type of lid snaps into the…
Categories: Painting & Refinishing
Window washing secret Number 1: to a bucket of warm water, add 1 tablespoon of liquid dishwashing detergent.
Secret Number 2: apply the cleaning solution with a scrubber sleeve. You’ll find these in almost any hardware store or home improvement center. They come with a frame like this, just slip it over.. Lay the scrubber sleeve flat on…
Categories: Doors & Windows
Product Information: The cyanoacrylate glues I used in this demo are manufactured by Bob Smith Industries and are available online from Amazon (click here for link). To find ordering information on the accelerator, specifically, click here. You'll also find this brand and others in most hobby stores. Home improvement centers and hardware stores may carry…
Categories: Adhesives
You know damage like this can happen to any piece of furniture, new or old. Here’s an easy way to fix it. Now this is the first of two materials we’ll need to make this repair. This is auto body filler; this is a two-part material. This is the catalyst, this is red and the resin is gray. When…
Categories: Painting & Refinishing
Your tape measure, like any tool, will benefit from a little maintenance to keep it working smoothly and keep its accuracy.
Every once in a while, apply some paste wax to the front and back of the tape.
To make sure your tape is measuring accurately just place it on a piece of wood aligning the one…
Categories: Measuring
You know, one of my least favorite parts of painting is the cleaning up afterwards, especially the tray. First, I have to wipe up as much of the paint as I can, then wash out whatever's left.
Meet the Peel-a-Tray. When you've finished painting, you simply grab the corners of the disposable liner, pull toward the…
Categories: Painting & Refinishing, Savers
Veneered plywood, like red oak shown here, is an excellent choice for cabinet making projects, but has an unsightly raw edge that you wouldn't want to leave visible. A great way to conceal these edges is with wood edge tape.
This tape has a heat sensitive adhesive on the back. To apply it, you simply lay it over the edge…
Categories: Adhesives, Woodworking
Not all shovels are created equal. There are really only three types of shovels that you'll use most often in your do-it-yourself gardening and landscape projects.
The first is called a round point shovel. This shovel is best for digging through tough soil, digging holes, and removing larger plants.
The second shovel is called a square point…
Categories: Lawn & Garden
If you’ve got screen doors or screen windows, sooner or later this is bound to happen to you. Now, you could take this down to the hardware store and have them fix it, but its easier to do it yourself, let me show you how. The screen is held in place with a vinyl cord or spline to remove…
Categories: Doors & Windows
You know the joint between your door and window frames on the side of your house is a place where water, drafts, even insects can enter your home. Now typically those are sealed with caulk. But after years of exposure to sunlight and weather, well that caulk can fail, just like this. The first step to solving this problem…
Categories: Doors & Windows
You know, most people keep their gutters out of their minds, I mean after all they are way up there, it’s sort of easy to sort of forget about them. But if you do, and they collect debris, well that can cause you some really big problems. You know, keeping them clean is not really that difficult. Let me…
Categories: Lawn & Garden
Regardless of where you live, there probably will be times when your lawn won't get enough water. During periods of drought, your lawn will slow its growth, turn straw-colored, wilt, and eventually go dormant. During these periods of limited watering, there are things you can do that will help your lawn recover quickly when the drought is over.
…
Categories: Lawn & Garden
The compass is the tool of choice when it comes to drawing circles, but what if you don't have one? There are many alternatives around the house and garage.
For small circles you can use a coin.
For larger circles, try tracing the outline of a can.
Finally, it's not too difficult to make your own…
Who doesn't love the cozy warmth of a crackling fireplace. But, let's face it, sometimes it's just expensive or impractical or both to put in a conventional wood-burning or even gas-buring unit. Venting alone can be a real challenge. However, there are alternatives available that require little or no installation and, sometimes, no venting. This is a quick, to-the-point…
Categories: General
Here's a problem you may have lived with for years and never realizing how easy it would be to fix. If you have a kitchen or bathroom faucet that spits and splatters instead of delivering a nice even stream of water, the problem is, most likely, in the aerator. It gets dirty and clogged with sand and sediment. The…
Categories: Plumbing
The product demonstrated in this video is the Hangnail System from Hangman Products.
- The core components of this system are two strips of extruded aluminum.
- The first strip attaches to the back of the picture frame. Notice the angle shape. To avoid the possibility of splitting, first drill pilot holes, then install small panhead screws. …
Categories: General
Most of us already know that painting can be a messy job. Ron offers a couple of tips that help keep the mess under control.
Whenever pouring paint from a can, it often collects in the rim. To avoid this, Ron suggests taking a nail and punching a hole in the rim. This allows the paint to run…
Categories: Painting & Refinishing
When it comes to getting great results in home improvement projects, Ron believes in using the best tools you can afford. This is as true for paint brushes as anything else.
It used to be that brushes fell into one of two categories: natural bristle for oil based paints and nylon for latex or water based paints. But…
Categories: Painting & Refinishing
Gouges and large chips on the corners of door frames, jambs, window sills and the like really can't be properly repaired with air-drying wood fillers and putties. The problem is, those materials simply don't get hard enough or bond well enough to stand up to the kind of use or abuse to which they are often subjected. A…
Categories: Doors & Windows, Woodworking, Workshop
You know, sometimes the hardest part of a stripping job is getting that residual stripper and old paint out of the details, like the panel here in this old door. Well, here are three tips that’ll make that go easier. Tip Number One: use a small bristled brass brush like this to get up inside these crevices and scrub…
Categories: Painting & Refinishing
The knife sharpener used in this video is made by EdgeCraft. For more product information click here.
Now I haven't done any official research on this, but my guess is that most of the kitchen knives in America are not sharp. Are yours? Well, here's a test to find out. Take a piece of…
Categories: General
Now when it comes to marking implements, what do you prefer, the round pencil or the rectangular carpenter's pencil. Well, my friend Jim, the cabinet maker likes this one. I, on the other hand, kind of prefer this one. Let me show you why. If you put the round pencil down on a slightly inclined surface, well, there it…
Categories: Workshop
Installing a programmable thermostat could cut your energy costs by up to 33 percent. It's easy to do with a few simple steps. First, remove the decorative cover or trim piece from the existing thermostat. Underneath, you'll find mounting screws. Remove these and the thermostat mechanism. Most thermostats have four or five wires connected to terminals that are labeled.…
Categories: Savers
If you do woodworking projects or put up interior trim work, you’ve undoubtedly used cellulose wood filler. Often, though, when you pry the lid off a previously opened can, you find the material inside partially dried out and lumpy. Well, here’s a way to keep your filler moist and ready to go. This idea might even save you a…
Categories: Savers
Have you ever noticed how your power cords always seem to get in the way when you're using a saw or router? Ron offers a simple solution.
Take a screen door spring, and put an "S" hook in either end. Hang one end of the spring from a convenient place above your work area.
Take the power…
Categories: Power Tools, Safety
Any time you have to cut two or more pieces of wood to exactly the same length, the one thing you don't want to do is measure and mark each piece individually with a tape measure, and cut them one at a time. Every time you measure the wood, and every time you cut it, you can introduce a…
Are you tired of trying to pry off paint can lids that are stuck on with dried paint? Ron offered this great suggestion to try before you close that can.
First, Ron cleaned off any standing paint in the can's rim.
Next, he took a piece of plastic food wrap and laid it over the top of…
Categories: Painting & Refinishing
At first glance all hack saw blades may look alike, but there actually is a difference. The number of teeth per inch differentiates one blade from the next. Which blade you choose should depend on which metal you will be cutting.
For heavy-duty cutting jobs like steel reinforcing rod or pipe, an 18-teeth per inch blade would be…
Categories: Hand Tools, Safety
Have you ever had to nail something high over your head but you couldn't quite reach to get that nail started? Here are a few tips that can make the job easier.
Try placing the nail in the claws of the hammer and start it from that position.
Or, if you happen to have a small disk…
Categories: Hand Tools, Woodworking
When disassembling something with a lot of small parts, it can be disconcerting to wonder if you'll be able to get it back together. One thing that helps is to organize these pieces as you take them apart; putting them in the proper order and labeling them.
This technique is a great way to organize those small metal…
Have you been frustrated when trying to make an inside measurement because you just can't get an accurate enough reading? Here's a simple technique that's been used by craftsmen and cabinetmakers for centuries.
Take two strips of wood whose combined length is longer than the distance you want to measure. Set them inside the area you want to…
Categories: Measuring
If the interior doors on your house are the flat hollow core version like this, but you prefer the raised panel look, well, here's a way to have this without going to the trouble and expense of replacing the doors.
Almost any flat door can be made to look like a panel door by applying moldings to the…
Categories: Doors & Windows
Well, there's no getting around it, exterior windows and doors, siding and trim do have to be sealed. But you know, there are products on the market today that will last up to 50 years. So if you do it the right way and use the right material, you don't have to do it very often.
If you…
A little while ago, I took a fixture off the shop wall and was left with a patch of paneling that was bare wood. I wanted to recolor this to match the surrounding surface. The only problem was, when I went to pick out the stain, I couldn't find exactly the right color.
So instead, I selected two…
Categories: Painting & Refinishing
Almost every tiling job requires that you cut at least a few tiles. There are several ways to do this.
For small tiles, a handheld scoring cutter is a good choice. Place the cutting wheel on the edge of the tile where you want to start the cut, push down with your opposite hand and move it across…
Categories: Hand Tools, Measuring
Wooden countertops and cutting boards require special care in order to protect the wood and avoid contaminating food. Proper sealing also helps prevent stains and discoloration.
Categories: Safety
If you've ever tried to drill into ceramic tile, you know how frustrating it can be when the drill skates around the surface of the tile. Ron offers a great tip to keep that from happening.
Ron placed a spring-loaded center punch on the tile where he wanted to drill his hole. He pushed down on the punch…
Categories: Power Tools
If you've been looking for a dust-free place to store things like dust masks, then look no further. Ron shares this great idea.
First Ron slips his dust mask into a plastic food storage bag and zips the top closed.
Next, he clips on the type of large binder clip that you can buy at any office…
Categories: Organization
Long extension cords can quickly become a tangled mess. Ron offers a way to keep them organized and easy to use.
Take a five gallon bucket and drill an inch and a quarter or inch and a half hole on the side.
Pass the plug end through the hole and feed the rest of the cord into…
Categories: Organization
Even though we dust the walls and strain our paint, sometimes, there are still flecks of dust or lint visible on the painted surface -- especially if we're working with satin or gloss finishes. The culprit could be the roller. Even new rollers can deposit fibers onto the wall surface. One way to prevent this is to remove any…
Categories: Painting & Refinishing, Savers
Whether it is in the middle of winter or any other time of the year, indoor planter boxes are always in season. If your planter box is made of wood, Ron offers these three tips that will help make your planter last longer and keep your plants healthier.
With a putty knife, apply roofing cement to the inside…
Categories: Lawn & Garden, Savers
The next time you have to secure a couple of boards together but you don't have a clamp handy, the solution may not be in your tool cabinet but in your medicine cabinet.
It's amazing what you can do with an elastic bandage. Place the two boards together and begin wrapping. It is important to stretch the bandage…
Categories: Hand Tools, Savers
When it comes to choosing a storm and screen door, there are a lot of options to choose from. Let's take a look at some. Some storm and screen doors like these traditional designs are the focal point of the entryway. Others, like these full view models are intended to show off the entry door behind.
There are…
Categories: Doors & Windows
I'm sure this has happened to you. You try to loosen or tighten a bolt like this with the head rounded off and you find that an adjustable wrench is practically useless. Well, this is where you need a locking jaw plier. These are adjustable with this knob back here. You want to turn this until the pliers really…
Categories: Hand Tools
If you plan to put new decking down on top of joists, Ron offers a tip that you might want to consider.
After decking has been down for a period of time, it tends to dry out and it can slip around the screws or nails. When you walk on it, the movement can cause the two pieces…
Categories: Woodworking
Now here's a situation that I've come across quite a few times actually, a sink that's in pretty good condition but a sink basket with the finish almost completely worn off. Now a lot of folks think you've gotta live with this because it's part of the sink, but the truth is, it's very easy to change this out…
Categories: Plumbing
The energy and cost saving story on compact fluorescent bulbs is quite impressive. They use about one quarter as much electricity as a conventional incandescent bulb and they can last up to 10 times as long.
In other words, you would have to purchase more than 13 standard incandescent bulbs to equal one compact fluorescent.
Now some…
Categories: Electrical & Lighting, Savers
The secret to a great sanding job is to use several different grits or grades of sandpaper, starting with the coarsest and moving to the finest. This can mean keeping a lot of different kinds of sandpaper on hand. Then, too, there are even more abrasive papers for sanding metal, smoothing coats of finish and other specialized tasks.
…
Categories: Organization
Screw-top caps on containers of adhesive can sometimes be tough to remove. The adhesive dries in the threads and the top become virtually glued closed. Ron offers a great tip that will help.
Take the top off and wrap the threads a couple of time around in a clockwise direction with Teflon tape, the same tape you use…
If you've ever tried to drive a very small nail, you know how difficult it can be.
Here are three simple techniques for holding those tiny nails and brads while you tap them into place. Even more importantly, each one will insure that your fingers are will outside the range of a descending hamer head.
On top of that, these…
Categories: Hand Tools
Adding insulation is one of the easiest things we can do to lower energy costs, often by as much as 20 percent a year. Now, for most of us, that adds up to more than 250 dollars. Many attics have only four to six inches of insulation. Depending on where you live, that simply may not be enough. Fiberglass insulation…
Whenever you are cutting through carpeting, vinyl flooring or even roofing paper, your blade will probably become dull much faster than you might expect. That's because the surface underneath can be really hard, sometimes even concrete. It is well worth your time and energy to stop every few minutes and change the blade. It only takes a second and you'll…
Removing an unwanted finishing nail, without doing damage to the wood surrounding it, can be a bit of a challenge. There is a way to accomplish it, which involves making a tool just for that purpose.
Start with a pair of old diagonal cutters. The idea is to remove the bevel on the back side of the tool.
Continue Reading
Categories: General
I like to keep my hammers hanging up in the workshop -- close at hand and ready for action. For years, I've done this by hammering a couple of nails or dowels into my tool board. But now, I've come up with a way that's even more secure. This short video demonstrates exactly what I mean,
Categories: Hand Tools, Organization
You know, few things warm up a room better than wooden furniture and really nice wooden furniture like this table, for example, need to be properly taken care of. For a lot of folks, that means putting on oils and sprays. But I have a different way of taking care of furniture like this. It's a technique that I learned…
Categories: General, Painting & Refinishing
You know when you are doing interior painting, painting things in the right order can save you time and give you more professional results. For example, you want to paint the edges of the wall before you pain the wall itself. Now up here, where the wall meets the ceiling, this is a great tool to use. It’s a…
Categories: General, Painting & Refinishing
Gluing a miter joint together often requires a special clamp. Don't have one? Well, here's how to make a clamping jig that will do quite nicely. Using a combination square, lay out a right triangle on a scrap piece of three-quarter-inch plywood. Cut out the shape using a bandsaw or jigsaw. Save both pieces. Put one on the outside…
Categories: Hand Tools, Power Tools, Workshop
When it comes to using certain power tools, like a belt sander or a router, it's crucial that the work piece is held firmly in position.
Sometimes, clamps that would hold a work piece secure simply get in the way of the tools.
A solution that is both practical and inexpensive is a roll of…
Categories: Power Tools, Workshop
The Secret to Getting Smooth Joints on Countertops, Bathtubs and More
Product Information
Currently, BeadTammer, the product shown in the video is unavailable. This is a replacement product ~ Ron CAULK-EZ EZ-4 Caulk Spray Can with Nozzle, Transparent, 2.5 oz
Removing Old Caulk
For my money, the best way to remove old caulk is by cutting it away with…
If you've got to cut a very long piece of wood like this to a narrower width but you don't have a table saw, well don't worry, you can do a very good job with a circular saw if you'll follow these suggestions.
Now this happens to be pressure treated lumber. It has a very high moisture content. …
Categories: Power Tools, Workshop
Now if you're going to work on the electrical circuits in your home, it's vital to know whether say a receptacle like this is live, working or dead, not working. Now here are five simple testers you can use to make that determination starting with probably the simplest.
Just a plain old night light. Now to make sure…
Categories: Electrical & Lighting, Safety
Sometimes when it comes to repairing a small nick like this in a piece of furniture, I can find the solution in my son or my daughter's art supplies in the form of a wax crayon. I choose one that comes close to the color of the surface I'm repairing. Then, using a butane gas lighter like those used…
Categories: General, Painting & Refinishing
A straight edge on a smooth surface…now, that can be a slippery problem. Just when you're about to draw your line or make your cut , the straight edge moves. Try this solution.
Instead of putting your fingers just on the straight edge put half on the straight edge and half on the surface.
One more thing…
Categories: Measuring, Woodworking
Are you tired of having to do this? Shake your glue bottle to get the glue down to the tip where you need it? Well, here's a holder that will keep the glue ready to go when you are. First we'll choose drill bits or hole saws that are slightly larger than the necks of the glue bottles.
…
You know, the best lighting is the kind that you can adjust, make brighter or dimmer, not simply turn on or off. But the fact is, you can make practically any lamp into a three-way lamp simply by changing a socket. It's simple. Let me show you how.
Start by unplugging the lamp, unscrewing the bulb and removing…
Categories: Electrical & Lighting
When driving nails into molding, nothing is more upsetting than having the hammer head slip and dent that expensive trim work. Well, here's an easy and very inexpensive way to keep that from happening. Start the nail as usual but protect the trim with a strip of wood into which a quarter inch hole has been drilled. Any mis-strokes…
Categories: General, Hand Tools
Applying mulch to your flower beds, gardens, shrubs and trees can help your plants in many ways. Ten to twenty-five percent of the water in soil is lost to evaporation. Mulch slows this evaporation, reducing the amount of watering required.
Mulch also acts like an insulating blanket, lowering soil temperatures in hot weather and protecting shallow roots from…
Categories: Lawn & Garden
Security, safety and convenience are all reasons for having lights turn on and off automatically. Here are several very simple screw-in devices that can convert almost any lamp or light fixture into one that operates without the need for manual control. Some operate at dusk or dawn, some have built-in timers that can be pre-set and others allow a…
Categories: Electrical & Lighting
When there is only a little bit of paint left in your can, but you want to keep it fresh for that small touch-up down the road, Ron offers this great tip.
Ron took a sports water bottle, unscrewed the cap and set the base inside a roll of tape to steady it.
Next, he inserted a funnel in the…
Categories: Painting & Refinishing, Savers
Now when it comes to working on electrical circuits, there are two really important things to keep in mind: One, make sure the electricity is off while you're working. And two, you want to make sure that the wires are attached to the proper terminals.
Now there are a whole bunch of cool tools to help you do that. Let…
Categories: Electrical & Lighting, Safety
You know there are times that holding a piece of sandpaper in your hand, for example, when you're sanding a small block like this is just fine. But on other occasions, when you're sanding large panels like this one or a table top, you want to create a perfectly flat surface. That's the time to use a sanding block.
And…
Categories: Hand Tools, Workshop
A GFCI constantly monitors current flowing through a circuit. If the current flowing into the circuit differs from the returning current, even by a very small amount, the GFCI interrupts power in a fraction of a second. GFCI's are intended to prevent electrical shock, electrocution and burns by shutting down the current before it can cause serious injury or…
Categories: Electrical & Lighting
A water source near an electrical source can result in a deadly shock but there is a way to prevent that kind of accident by replacing these conventional receptacles with this, a ground fault circuit interrupter or GFCI receptacle.
First, make sure you turn off the power at the circuit breaker or fuse box. Now a good way…
Categories: Electrical & Lighting, Safety
Folks often ask me “What are the most important half a dozen or so hand tools to have in your toolbox?” Well, that’s kind of a tough question to answer but, here are my choices. Number one of course, would be a hammer. Now you can get hammers in a lot of different varieties: fiberglass handle, wood handle or…
Categories: Hand Tools, Workshop
Now if you’ve run out of time before you’ve been able to finish your painting job, no need to clean your roller, simply place it inside a plastic bag like this one, give it a couple of twists, and secure it with a tie. Now the next day, you can just take this out and continue on with your…
Categories: Painting & Refinishing
Sometimes when you're trying to drill a hole in a round object like this piece of pipe, it keeps rolling on you. Well, here's a way to keep that from happening. Clamp down a scrap piece of wood and cut notches into the ends with a jigsaw. Cut off the wood a couple of inches below the bottom of…
Categories: Power Tools, Workshop
You know, a lot of today's doors look like they're solid. But in fact, they're hollow, and you can end up with damage that looks like this. But don't throw that door away. Here's a repair that you can make in less than an hour.
With a utility knife, cut a bevel around the edge of the hole.…
Categories: Doors & Windows
If you were to use locking pliers on a polished piece of metal such as a shower ring, you could be certain it would leave some pretty serious scratches and gouges. But there is a way to use this tool without leaving those damaging marks!
Take an old leather glove and cut off two fingers. Use these fingers…
Categories: Hand Tools
Here's a great way to make a paint stirrer in just seconds with something that nearly all of us have in our home… a wire hanger.
First snip off the hanger hook and straighten the wire. Then bend one end of the wire into a zigzag shape.
Cut any excess off the straight end and insert it…
Categories: Painting & Refinishing
Did you ever start a painting job and then have to set it aside only to find that when you came back, the masking tape would not come off without doing damage to the surface it was stuck to? Here's an easy way to get it off. Use a hairdryer! Hold the hairdryer just three or four inches away…
Categories: Adhesives
One of the secrets to getting a really professional finishing job is good sanding. But sometimes, getting down into those detailed areas can be a bit tricky. Here's a suggestion to make the task easier.
Cut off a piece of jute twine a couple of feet long, and wrap it right into the groove that you are trying…
Categories: Woodworking
If you've been living with your old wallpaper because you thought it was just too difficult to get off, well, wait no longer. Here's a four step process that will get it off in a flash.
Start by using a wallpaper perforating tool like this to create hundreds of small holes in the old paper.
…
Categories: General
The other day I received an email from a viewer. It says, Ron just viewed your demo of pour spouts for paint cans. One thing I noted about the collapsible spout was that you poured from it incorrectly. I was taught by my grandfather how to pour from cans, jugs and jars without the dreaded glug glug glug effect.…
Categories: Painting & Refinishing
Have you ever reached into a tool belt pocket only to poke your finger on the wrong end of a nail? Ron offers a great idea to prevent that from happening.
Clamp your hammer into a vice with the handle end up.
Drill a wide but shallow hole in the end of the handle.
Put a…
Categories: Hand Tools, Safety
One sound that every do-it-yourselfer hates to hear is a screwdriver bit slipping in the head of a screw. But Ron offers a couple of ways that you might be able to get those screws out, and it's easier than you might think.
The first thing you can try is a product called Screw Grab. This is a…
Categories: Woodworking
Learn how to use accessories to get the most of your truck as a tool.
Ron reviews some great accessories available for GMC trucks...
Learn how to eliminate mosquitoes in your backyard by installing a mosquito magnet; includes tips on locating the unit and basic operation.
Categories: Lawn & Garden
Flowering Container Plants have special needs to keep them flourishing
Categories: Lawn & Garden, Garden, Lawn Care
Learn how to tune-up your outdoor grill; includes details on cleaning, repainting, replacing briquettes and installing new burners.
Categories:
Installing an Electric Garage Door Opener Makes Exiting and Entering Your Garage Safer and Easier
Categories: Doors, Garage Doors, Exterior Doors & Windows, Exterior Doors
A Backup Power Source will Keep Life Running Smoothly
Categories: Other Projects, Safety & Preparedness
Add a DIY Shower Enclosure for Privacy When Slipping out of Wet and Sandy Beachwear in Your Outdoor Shower Area
Categories: Outdoor Buildings & Furniture, Outdoor Buildings
Easy to use products make leveling a cracked, sagging, or warped floor possible
Build an Indoor/Outdoor Planter from Standard PVC Pipe and Fittings
Categories: Lawn & Garden, Garden
Learn how to install a metal storm door; includes instructions on installing the latch set and closer as well as tips, materials, and tools lists.
Categories: Exterior Doors & Windows, Exterior Doors
Learn how to create a backyard pond and waterfall; includes details on pond placement, liner installation, pump installation and operation.
Categories: Water Features, Fountains
Save on electricity costs by replacing your pool pump with a new energy-efficient model
Categories: Water Features, Pools
Learn how to child-proof your swimming pool; includes details on fencing, gate alarms and pool alarms.
Categories: Fences & Gates, Fences, Water Features, Pools
Learn how to replace or install composite porch railing.
Learn how to winterize your lawn; includes step-by-step instructions along with tips, materials, and tools lists.
Categories: Lawn & Garden, Lawn Care
Learn how to give your outdoor furniture a facelift; watch a video demonstrating how to clean, brighten, sand, stain and seal outdoor furniture.
Categories: Outdoor Buildings & Furniture, Outdoor Furniture, Painting, Staining, & Waterproofing, Staining & Waterproofing
Learn how to maintain your rain gutters; includes details on cleaning gutters, installing downspout screens and gutter caps.
Categories: Roofs & Gutters, Gutters
Learn how to install an outdoor lamp post; details include digging a post hole, setting the post and wiring the lamp.
Categories: Outdoor Lighting, Path & Walk Lighting
Learn how to install an automatic irrigation system; includes details on running and concealing flexible irrigation lines.
Categories: Water Features, Sprinkler Systems
Bees and wasps can damage wood on exteriors, make nests under siding -- not to mention the stinging.
Categories:
Learn how to install a wireless mail alert system that lets you know when your mail has arrived.
Categories:
Learn how to enhance your cell phone reception by installing a cell phone repeater tower.
Categories: Roofs & Gutters, Roofs
Learn how to assemble and install an outdoor arched arbor kit; watch a video containing valuable assembly and installation tips.
Categories: Pergolas & Arbors, Arbors
Learn how to apply water-based stain with four different tools and methods.
Categories: Painting, Staining, & Waterproofing, Staining & Waterproofing
Learn how to identify and use the advantages of state-of-the art water-based stains.
Categories: Painting, Staining, & Waterproofing, Staining & Waterproofing
Restore an aged and worn deck to its original beauty.
Categories: Decks & Patios, Decks, Painting, Staining, & Waterproofing, Staining & Waterproofing
An Indoor-Outdoor Planting and Potting Bench with Adjustable Lighting Fixture
Categories: Lawn & Garden, Garden
Learn how to replace a broken window pane; includes details on removing broken glass, cutting glass, using glaziers points and glazing.
Categories: Windows, Exterior Doors & Windows, Exterior Windows
The cold frame greenhouse will enable you to give seedlings and cuttings a head start on spring growth.
Categories: Lawn & Garden, Garden
Learn how to control weeds in your lawn; watch a video showing how to distribute a weed and feed chemical with a spreader.
Categories: Lawn & Garden, Lawn Care
Learn how to create a bird sanctuary; includes details on landscaping to attract birds, building and installing bird houses and bird feeders.
Categories: Lawn & Garden
Learn how to build a portable, weather-resistant grilling prep station perfect for outdoor cooking.
Categories: Decks & Patios, Outdoor Cooking
Learn how to assemble and install a garden shed kit; includes step-by-step instructions along with site preparation and installation tips.
Categories: Outdoor Buildings & Furniture, Outdoor Buildings
Learn how to install an insulated exterior door; includes details on removing the old door, installing flashing along with installation tips.
Categories: Doors, Entry Doors, Exterior Doors & Windows, Exterior Doors
Learn how to build and install an outdoor arbor gate; includes plans and step-by-step instructions along with tips, materials, and tools lists.
Categories: Fences & Gates, Fences, Gates
Learn how to mill lumber from a tree; details include felling the tree and cutting the log into planks using a band saw mill.
Categories:
Construct a Hurricane-resistant Pergola in Your Back Yard to Improve a Bare Corner and Add a Shaded Sitting Area
Categories: Pergolas & Arbors, Pergolas
Repair Dry-rotted Wood by Packing It with Polyester Resin Wood Filler or Patching It with a Wooden Block
Categories: Painting, Staining, & Waterproofing, Exterior Painting, Exterior Doors & Windows, Exterior Windows
Learn how to repair and resurface an asphalt driveway; watch a video showing how to clean, repair and resurface a driveway.
Categories: Decks & Patios
Learn how to install an invisible electric dog fence to confine your pet to your yard.
Categories: Fences & Gates, Fences, Lawn & Garden
Learn how to build a knock-down outdoor serving bar; watch a video of step-by-step construction tips; materials and tool lists provided.
Categories: Outdoor Buildings & Furniture, Outdoor Furniture
Use Interlocking Concrete Patio Pavers to Turn a Plain Back Yard into a Charming Cottage Patio
Categories: Decks & Patios, Patios
To clean outdoor surfaces, use concentrated oxygen powered cleaners, like this one, to remove dirt, mildew, algae, fungus. They are chlorine-free and biodegradable.
Categories: Outdoor Buildings & Furniture
Learn how to restore a weathered deck by power washing and applying a deck cleaner and brightener, with complete step-by-step instructions and video.
Categories: Painting, Staining, & Waterproofing, Staining & Waterproofing
Learn how to make over a deck with composite decking and railing; includes instructions along with tips, materials, and tools lists.
Categories: Decks & Patios, Decks
Seal Porous Outdoor Objects with Multi-surface Waterproofer to Prevent Water Absorption and Related Damage Such as Freezing and Cracking
Categories: Painting, Staining, & Waterproofing, Staining & Waterproofing
Learn how new power tools are developed; watch a video interview with an industry professional about the many stages of tool development.
Categories: Tools & Techniques, Tools
Learn how to build a dowel organizer for your shop; watch a video that shows how to use scraps of PVC pipe to make a nifty organizer.
Categories: Storage & Cabinets, Tools & Techniques, Techniques
Learn how to waterproof your basement; watch a video containing techniques for creating a drainage trench and installing a sump pump.
Learn how to build and install a space-saving, wall-mounted, hinged tool storage system.
Categories: Storage & Cabinets, Cabinets, Shelving
Learn how to pre-finish crown molding, bead board and other wooden trim before installation.
Categories: Woodwork & Trim, Molding, Painting & Decorating, Painting Techniques
Learn how to create an arched doorway using an arch kit; watch a video demonstrating the removal of wall coverings and installation of an arch.
Categories: Doors, Archways & Doorways
Construct a Carpet-covered Cat Tree with a Scratching Post and Tower
Categories: Furniture & Refinishing, Building
Convert the Under-counter Space behind a Single Kitchen Cabinet Door and Drawer for a Hidden Pull-out Trash Bin
Install a Tankless Water Heater for Hot Water on Demand along with the Savings of Gas over Electricity
Categories: Plumbing
Design, build and Finish a Custom Picture Frame in a Few Simple Steps.
Categories: Walls, Hanging & Mounting
Using Minwax Whitewash Pickling Stain
Use this innovative tiling system to put ceramic tile directly on top of plastic laminate, metal or wood countertops
Categories: Kitchen, Countertops
Remove marks and blemishes before re-finishing to make an old cabinet look like new.
Categories: Furniture & Refinishing, Staining, Storage & Cabinets, Cabinets
How to make delicious barbequed ribs.
Upgrade your door hardware with new pocket door pulls and track to give new life to existing pocket doors in your home.
Categories: Doors, Interior Doors
Learn how to use portable power tools including a pneumatic nailer, circular saw, saber saw, power miter saw and driver/drill.
Categories: Tools & Techniques, Tools
Build a Handsome Stained Cherry Wood Wine Rack as a Home Woodworking Project and Expand It Later
Categories: Furniture & Refinishing, Building, Storage & Cabinets
Turn an Unfinished Stud Wall into Quick and Handy DIY Shelves with a Slatwall Shelving System and Accessories
Categories: Storage & Cabinets, Shelving
Use the Tavy Thin-Skin Method to Ensure a Long Lasting Tile Installation
Tear down That Metal Building and Build a Kit-based Solar Garden Shed That Doubles as a Greenhouse
Categories: Outdoor Buildings & Furniture, Outdoor Buildings, Lawn & Garden
Learn how to build and install board and batten shutters; includes step-by-step instructions along with tips, materials, and tools lists.
Categories: Exterior Doors & Windows, Exterior Windows
How to deal with nail pops, damaged, twisted boards and severe fading and discoloration
Categories: Decks & Patios, Decks
Add a Conversation Piece to Your Deck or Patio in the Form of an Attractive and Non-Leaky Fishpond
Categories: Water Features
Learn how to make and install a retractable patio shade screen; includes details on working with shade screen, grommets, and wire cable.
Categories: Decks & Patios, Patios
Learn how to build a wind screen for your deck; includes step-by-step instructions along with tips, materials, and tools lists.
Categories: Decks & Patios, Decks
Increase Your Home's Curb-appeal: Stain and Protect a Porch with Colors to Eliminate the Raw Look of New Pressure-treated Lumber
Categories: Decks & Patios, Porches, Painting, Staining, & Waterproofing, Staining & Waterproofing
Learn how to build a fountain and waterfall from dry stacked stone. Includes information on how to work with a pond liner and install a pump.
Categories: Water Features, Fountains
Learn how to install low-voltage exterior lights; includes details on installing ground level well lights and decorative lanterns.
Categories: Outdoor Lighting, Path & Walk Lighting
Build a Picnic Table from Two-by-six Treated Lumber Cut to Dimension in an Assembly Line to Speed the Building Process
Categories: Outdoor Buildings & Furniture, Outdoor Furniture
Learn how to create a backyard fish pond; watch a video demonstrating layout and digging of a pond, liner & pump installation; tools/materials lists.
Categories: Water Features, Ponds
Learn how to install a child-safe pool cover; watch a video that demonstrates how to install the cover, complete with a test.
Categories: Water Features, Pools
Read step-by-step instructions on how to install a storm door
Categories: Doors, Storm Doors, Exterior Doors & Windows, Exterior Doors
Improve the Energy Efficiency of the Windows in Your Home
Categories: Exterior Doors & Windows, Exterior Windows
Learn how to construct an outside garbage enclosure that is attractive and animal-resistant.
Categories: Outdoor Buildings & Furniture, Outdoor Furniture
Learn how to install an irrigation system; includes details on working with rigid plastic pipe, flow controls, flexible tubing and sprinkler heads.
Categories: Water Features, Sprinkler Systems
Learn how to build a stacked rock wall planter; includes details on working with stone along with tips, materials, and tools lists.
Categories: Lawn & Garden, Garden
Learn how to remove and install a double-hung window; includes step-by-step instructions along with tips, materials, and tools lists.
Categories: Exterior Doors & Windows, Exterior Windows
Upgrade Your Old Patio Door with Great New Privacy Features
Categories: Doors, Sliding Patio Doors, Exterior Doors & Windows, Exterior Doors
Remove an old basement door and replace it with a new entry way.
Categories: Exterior Doors & Windows, Exterior Doors
Learn how to repair dry rot and install a new bay window to make your room more inviting.
Categories: Windows, Bay Windows
Learn how to use combination weed and feed fertilizers for the best results.
Categories: Lawn & Garden, Lawn Care
Cover Your Plain Concrete Patio with Mexican Saltillo Tile to Give It a Face Lift and Create a Southwestern Ambiance
Categories: Decks & Patios, Patios
