Which Circular Saw Should I Buy?

Posted on by Tim Carter

DEAR TIM: I want to buy a circular saw for my husband for our anniversary. That way he can build some things for me that I've been hinting I need. However, when I look online at all the different models and types, I'm more confused than ever. The current rage seems to be cordless saws, and the traditional corded saws seem to be very much out of favor. What kind of saw do you have and what are the pros and cons of each type? What would you buy if you were me? Marsha V., Nederland, TX

DEAR MARSHA: Oh my goodness, you've opened up a can of worms! I can hear the wailing and gnashing of teeth now from countless carpenters, circular saw manufacturers and marketing managers! Let's see how well I can navigate through this minefield and give you solid information.

You're correct that the large battles between all the major power tool companies is being fought in the cordless tool trenches. Cordless power tools are exciting, there are major advancements being made all the time, and they're convenient. I happen to own many cordless power tools, several circular saws among them, and am delighted with their performance.

Here are two nearly identical circular saws. The price is nearly the same for both, but they differ greatly. Photo Credit: Tim Carter

But that being said, I have to tell you that there's no substitute for overall performance when using a traditional corded circular saw hour after hour after hour on the jobsite. For over twenty years in the field as I worked each day, I knew I could pick up my corded circular saw, pull the trigger and have unlimited top power so long as there was electricity. Even when there wasn't traditional power, I made my own with a portable generator.

Let's start with the pros that surround cordless circular saws. If you have the battery charged up, and perhaps a second battery, you can saw wood anytime, anywhere under just about any conditions. You just pull the trigger and the saw blade starts spinning. If a battery runs out of stored power, you can have a new battery in the tool in seconds and be back to work.

Cordless saws free you from the cord, and extension cords, that can sometimes get in the way. These saws can be time savers because you don't have to fiddle around with long tangled extension cords.

Now let's talk about a few of the cons surrounding the cordless saws. Understand these are subjective points from my perspective. They may not be generally held feelings by all. First, you can only get unlimited power from a cordless saw if you have multiple batteries and a power source that recharges the batteries. If you have this power source, this could just as easily connect to a corded saw.

The cordless circular saws have been steadily advancing getting more and more powerful each year. But in my opinion, understanding I don't have expensive testing equipment at my disposal, a cordless circular saw can't come close to cutting wood at the same rate in a given amount of time as a traditional corded saw. The cordless saw out of the gate may keep up with, or even cut faster than a corded saw, but within a few minutes of continuous cutting, the corded saw just keeps on going like that cute bunny that beats the drum while the cordless saw slows down and stops.

Realize that when you purchase a corded saw, you don't usually ever have to buy anything else to keep it running. The batteries on cordless saws can go bad. Some batteries eventually wear out and you need to replace them. The price tag on cordless batteries can take your breath away.

There's a subtle difference the rookie tool buyer like you might not pick out between the two saws. Most cordless saws come with a 6.5-inch diameter blade. The traditional corded saws usually have a 7.25-inch diameter blade. This larger blade, assuming both saws are spinning at the same revolutions per minute, produces more cutting power because the larger blade tips are moving faster as they're farther away from the center of the axle. This means more power when the blade contacts the wood.

Don't forget that you still need 120-volt power to make a cordless circular saw work. The batteries have to be recharged. If you have lots of cutting to do and not enough batteries, you will stop working. I know, as it's happened to me. That would never happen with a corded saw. As long as you have power, and you keep your finger on the trigger, the saw blade spins.

At the end of the day, and if your budget allows over time, your husband would appreciate having both saws! There are times when I absolutely need and use a corded saw, but then there are jobs where it's great to have the versatility of a cordless circular saw. No matter what you buy, he'll be happy.

Be sure to pay attention to pricing. The saws that cost more generally have better parts and are made to last generations if you take care of them. The more expensive tools tend to be made for pros that use the tools day in and day out. If your husband will use the saw on occasional weekends, a pro circular saw will deliver top performance for decades.

You can watch numerous saw videos that contain secret tips at www.AsktheBuilder.com. Simply type "saw video" into the search engine at www.AsktheBuilder.com.

Column 949

August 15, 2012 AsktheBuilder Newsletter & Tips

Posted on by Tim Carter

I'm reading the book Valley Forge at night before I drift off to dreamland. Usually I can only get about six to eight pages done before I pass out. It's a fascinating book that goes into the enormous suffering and hardship the Continental Army was enduring at that time.

Valley Forge by Newt Gingrich & Wm Forstchen

I'm not an early American warfare expert, but from what I can tell, armies usually took the winter off because it was hard to travel and there wasn't any food for the horses and mules that moved the armies' supplies from place to place. Warfare back then was a fair weather activity. It makes sense as muddy and frozen roads are not easy to navigate.

The British army holed up in Philadelphia just 20 or so miles from Valley Forge. From what I surmise, had they fought just one more battle before taking the break for the winter we'd have an image of the Queen of England on all our coins and paper money instead of past presidents.

George Washington's army was so out of gas, it would have not taken much to completely wipe out the starving and ill-equipped men. The other fascinating thing were the mercenary soldiers, including officers, that came to America looking for work, if that's what you want to call war. It's a good book, you should consider reading it. I didn't realize Washington was so tall!

 

The GE Dishwasher Recall

I sent out an emergency email to you last Thursday the moment I heard about the fire hazard recall on the GE Dishwashers. You may be in the group of many who reached out with a big Thank You. Here's one that explains why I send out those notifications. It came from Dan Colwell:

Thanks Tim,

We have one of those dishwashers and I don't think I may have known about the recall if I didn't read "Askthebuilder".

No sweat Dan. I'm just doing my job.

 

Tip of the Week - Clear Urethanes

Urethane floor finishes aren't all the same. There are superb commercial products that are used for gymnasium floors and other high-traffic areas. The urethanes you might find in your home perform really well under normal conditions.

You can still get oil-based clear urethanes. Water-based urethanes seem to be the belles of the ball now because they contain far fewer volatile organic compounds (VOCs). That's what you smell when you put down an oil-based urethane.

Be aware that most water-based urethanes will not yellow over time. They truly stay clear. But oil-based urethanes almost always develop a patina that many people like. They tend to develop a light yellow to orangish coloration over time. This is really important to know if you're trying to match an existing floor finish.

 

We Have a Winner! - LE Johnson Pocket Door Contest

Congratulations to John Thompson! He got the most votes in the Pocket Door Hardware Contest. Alice Thompson came in second followed by Heidi Halvorson. Thank you for entering, thank you for voting, and thanks to LE Johnson for providing the door kit!

You should really take a look at this page at the LE Johnson website to see what John won. This page has great links to all the instructions that show how easy it is to install a pocket door. Pay particular attention to the trolleys or trucks that support the door.

Does your pocket door jump off the track? I'll bet it's because you don't have the right trucks. CLICK HERE to see what you need if you want your door to stay on the track at all times.

Tell me if you thought you'd see that many wheels on the truck?

 

50% Back-to-School Advertising SALE

Do you have a great home-improvement product, tool or service? During the month of September you might be able to catch the eye of the tens of thousands of homeowners that read this newsletter. Just reply to this message and change the Subject Line to: Ad Sale. Remember, I have to test the product first and APPROVE it before you can advertise. You know what that means - get me the product or tool pronto!

 

Deck Stain Test - Partial Results

I started testing sixteen different deck stains back in May of this year. The test pieces are down on my dock getting blasted by the sun all day until about 3 or 4 pm. I'm testing pigmented sealers as well as a few clear ones.

So far, three of the clear sealers have failed, and a fourth one is looking like it's not going to make it until September.

This test is going to run for at least two years. I put the sealers on both cedar decking and traditional treated lumber, as these are two of the most common deck lumbers used here in the USA.

 

Jeremy Wren and the DIY Shed Video Series

I had the distinct pleasure to have lunch with Jeremy Wren in Wake Forest, NC this past February. I was on my way to a conference and I always try, when I can arrange it, to meet with you and any other subscribers.

Jeremy owns a fantastic niche home improvement business in Wake Forest. He's been a subscriber to this newsletter for some time. I was amazed to hear that he incorporates my tips to help give his employees a competitive advantage.

Last week Jeremy wrote to me about the sale I had on my DIY Shed Series. You just have to read this:

"I missed the $50 price (I was too busy to be able to get to it at the time), but I did just get it at the $69 price level. I plan to use these videos for training videos for the company, so make 'em good! 🙂 "

I replied and thanked him for his purchase. As you might expect, he got back to me with:

"Thanks, Tim. Since I've been following you on Facebook & on your website for several years now that I felt 100% comfortable purchasing them. Your info is always right on, and I use your expertise to review our own procedures and methods.

Shed Building Videos

And $69 is a pretty incredible price!"

Jeremy's right. It's an incredible price. I say this because I know what I've already taped during the past three weeks. What's more wait till you see what I taped over the past few days. If you purchase the video series, you'll be getting Secret AsktheBuilder Ninja Tricks about installing flashings for sun tunnels, plumbing vents, turbine vents, skylights and all the basic asphalt shingle roofing videos.

Just THOSE videos that I shot up on the roof are well worth the $69 I'm charging for the entire series. Tell me, if you goof up a roof flashing or make one little mistake when installing shingles, do you think it will cost MORE THAN $69 to repair the damage?

You know it will. Go here to see all the things covered in the shed building video series.

The price for the entire series is going to go UP next week to $79. When the project is finished, the entire series will absolutely be priced above $100. If you decide to purchase each of the videos a la carte', you'll pay well over $200.

I did get one hate mail from a subscriber who thought that paying that much for building tips was "insane, greedy, highway robbery, etc". This man said I should be providing all the information for free. I reminded him that I already have thousands of pages of free information at my website, and hundreds of free videos. His reply was "That's not enough you money hungry thief!" I'm serious - I couldn't make this up if I tried.

 

Handyman Online Class and Other Classes

A little over six weeks ago, I offered to teach an online class about starting up a Handyman business. You may have been one of the many that responded. This class would be held online much like live television.

You'd purchase a seat in the class and would be sent instructions on how to login and watch. If something came up or you couldn't attend at the live event, no problem! The class will be taped and you could watch it later countless times at your convenience. If you do attend the class while it happens, you can do live chat and ask questions. It's very cool. If you watch the class after it happens, obviously you can't chat or ask questions.

The reason the Handyman Class got sidetracked is because the shed project kicked in and I simply didn't have the time to pull it together. I'm now ready to prepare to teach the class, but I need to know exactly what you want me to cover. If you tell me what you want to know, I'll be sure to cover that in the class. Just click Reply but *please* change the Subject Line to: Handyman Class

If you want me to offer any other online classes, what would you want? Would you like a series on Basement Remodeling? How about a series on Kitchen Remodeling Pitfalls? Would you be interested in a quick series on Bathroom Remodeling?

Tell me what knowledge you want to extract from my brain!

 

Milwaukee 28-Volt Cordless Circular Saw - 0730-22

I've been using Milwaukee's sweet 0730-22 cordless circular saw on the shed project. It's a husky saw that's sized much like traditional corded saws. This bad boy has some power.

Milwaukee 28-Volt Cordless Circular Saw

This cordless saw has 28 volts and is very well balanced. I love the hard plastic case that comes with the tool. While soft-sided cases may seem like a good idea, they don't protect tools in the back of a truck where other tools or materials can bang into them.

If you really want to test a circular saw, set it to cut at a 45-degree angle and then try to rip 2x material. I had to finish ripping a southern yellow pine 2x12 and the saw did great. If you've never cut southern yellow pine, let me tell you it's tough stuff.

How To Install Shingles

Posted on by Tim Carter
how to install shigles

This is a small but steep roof. The staggered offset for each row is exactly what the instructions say to do. Photo Credit: Tim Carter

DEAR TIM: Money is really tight, I have a small house and it needs a new roof. I simply can't afford to hire a roofer. My house has shingles on it now and I can walk on it with little difficulty. I've never installed roof shingles before, but now I need to. What will be my biggest challenges? Luckily there's only one plumbing pipe sticking through the roof. The rest of the roof is just shingles. Can I successfully install a new leak-free shingle roof myself? Andy M., Shawnee, OK

DEAR ANDY: The good news is that you absolutely can install a new asphalt shingle roof. What's more, you can probably do it completely by yourself, and it will be leak-free. Your biggest challenge will be the physical aspect of the job. It's hard work under the best conditions. It's unbearable work if you have to do it in blistering hot conditions or in the middle of winter.

The first thing to do is to decide on the shingles you'll use and obtain the written instructions from the manufacturer. It's never been easier to do this with the Internet. Just about every manufacturer has downloadable instructions for each of the shingle products they make. Just days ago, I downloaded a set of instructions for a specialty shingle I was installing on one of my projects.

Pay close attention to what the manufacturer has to say about installing the shingles on top of an existing roof. Talk with your building inspector and see what the code restrictions are in your town. If you're allowed to add your new shingles on top of your existing roof, you'll save an enormous amount of labor. Stripping off an old roof is mind-numbing brutal work.

If you have to remove your existing roof, get a great pair of gloves and wear them. Start at the top of the roof and remove any cap shingles at the peak of the roof. Use a flat spade shovel as a lever under the shingles. Special shingle removal tools are made for this purpose They have aggressive teeth that help lift the shingles away from the roofing nails.

Be sure you have a contingency plan in place. Don't strip off the entire roof leaving it exposed to the weather as a storm or pop-up rain shower could show up at your house and you'll have a real mess. It's possible to strip just half of one side of a roof from top to bottom and re-roof just that section. I did this years ago on the second house I owned. You can also purchase a large tarp to cover the house, but these have been known to blow away if not secured well.

The process of installing the shingles is not hard. Pay attention to the instructions and install the correct underlayment and any required starter shingles. In the old days, felt paper was the underlayment of choice. Now there are large rolls of underlayment and specialized underlayments that prevent roof leaks caused by ice dams and wind-blown rain. Traditional roofing felt paper works just fine as an underlayment. It's got a fantastic track record stretching back well over 100 years.

I strongly suggest you use metal drip edge at the bottom and along the sides of the roof. This product is affordable and when installed correctly it will really help keep you dry. If you use traditional felt underlayment, the metal drip edge goes on the wood roof sheathing first at the bottom of the roof. You then install the underlayment on top of the metal drip edge and over to the sides of the roof. The metal drip edge on the sloped sides of the roof goes on top of the underlayment. This method helps keep wind-blown rain from getting under the underlayment in fierce wind storms.

You need to chalk lines to keep the shingles running straight both horizontally and vertically. The written instructions will show you how to create the needed offset for each successive row as you march up the roof. This offset is mission critical. This is what keeps water from leaking into your home where two shingles meet.

Pay very close attention to the nailing location and the pattern in the instructions. Use the correct length nail as called out in the instructions. Do NOT listen to advice from friends, store clerks, etc. about what to do. The written instructions are your North Star. Remember, if there's a problem with the roof down the road, the warranty depends on you doing everything as stated in the instructions. Don't take shortcuts.

Cutting and fitting shingles around plumbing vents, roof vents, chimneys, etc. is an art and a science. If done wrong, you will have a leak; of that there is no doubt. If you currently don't have a leak at your plumbing vent pipe, take numerous photos of how the shingles are installed under and around it as you remove the existing roof. Peel back one layer of shingles at a time from the top down and snap photos to see how the roofer before you cut and fit the shingles.

You'll discover that as the shingles come up the roof, some of them go under the flashing boot around the plumbing pipe. Then the shingles start to cover the flashing. Try to avoid exposed nails if possible. If you do have to hammer in nails in the lower corners of the exposed flashing to keep it tight to the shingles, put a dab of roofing cement on top of the nail or an approved caulk.

You can watch numerous roof videos that contain secret tips at www.AsktheBuilder.com. Simply type "roof video" into the search engine at www.AsktheBuilder.com.

Column 948

masonry-water-repellent masonry-crack-sealant

The above product links are affiliate links. I get a tiny commission if you purchase these from Amazon.

Paslode Cordless Roofing Nailer

Posted on by Tim Carter

Paslode has done it again.

I'll never forget the first time, many years ago, I drove my first nail with a Paslode gun. It's like your first kiss. I was spellbound by the freedom of no hoses and compressors - and I had been a pneumatic nail-gun user for many years!

I got that same first-time rush yesterday when I drove the first roofing nail with Paslode's Cordless Roofing Nailer. Out of the sleek soft-sided case, the gun drove the first nail perfectly. Not too deep, not proud of the shingle, but just right.

Then it proceeded to drive hundreds more nails through the day as I installed several squares of GAF Timberline HD shingles on a shed roof. Each nail was perfect.

Paslode Cordless Roofing Nailer

I didn't have to worry about tripping over clumsy air hoses up on the roof, nor shouting over the racket caused by a gasoline-powered air compressor. I simply took the tool out of the case, and was working in seconds. Granted, I did have to charge the battery, but that took less than an hour. One battery charge will drive thousands of nails.

This new Paslode Roof Nailer is part of a system. It's 7.5 pounds of precision and gusto. Packed with the gun was a battery, charger and a nice box that contained 720 premium nails and a gas cartridge that has enough fuel to drive all the nails in the box. If you don't waste any nails, you have enough in each box to install two squares of ordinary shingles.

Loading the gas cartridge was easy, as were the nails. You simply open the side door to the drum and drop in the nails. You have to feed the nails to the nose of the tool, but that's as easy as dropping your razor knife to the ground once you're up on a roof.

Paslode Cordless Roofing Nailer

The nails have been designed to have extra holding power. They achieve this with grooves on the nail shaft that increases the surface area of the wood-to-metal contact. The nails also have the trademarked PowerBoost black coating that aids in driving the nail into the wood. I suspect it also helps hold the nail in position as the coating cools down.

There's no doubt that this tool will pay for itself in weeks if you use it on a job. The productivity gain from hand nailing is off the charts. Not everyone is a super fast hand nailer when it comes to shingles. For the average roofer, you'll save vast amounts of time. That time equals more profit per job for you.

My prediction on upcoming improvements to the tool are the following:

  • Hard-shell case to ensure the tool doesn't get damaged in the back of a truck
  • Matching Allen wrenches for every bolt on the tool
  • Lithium-ion battery pack

This Paslode tool deserves five hammers - it's that good.

August 9, 2012 AsktheBuilder Newsletter – Product Recall

Posted on by Tim Carter

This is a Special Alert! A regular newsletter will be sent next Tuesday.

GE Dishwasher Product Recall

A serious fire hazard has been found in certain GE dishwashers.

CLICK HERE to read the recall notice from the CSPC.

I hope you don't have one of the affected dishwashers.

I'll have a boatload of new tips and info next Tuesday for you.

Read my August 15, 2012 Newsletter for a subscriber's email about this news alert.

MB Tractor Excavator Rentals Video

Posted on by Tim Carter

Hi, I'm Tim Carter and I want to talk about renting an excavator from a tool rental place. I rented this excavator for the shed project.

This tractor excavator features rubber tracks so it won't harm a blacktop or concrete driveway. It has full rotation of the cab, an articulated arm with bucket with a thumb. The thumb allows you to pick up rocks or logs. It also has a small dozer blade for working the ground. The blade can be adjusted up and down, and left to right.

It takes about 10 minutes to get comfortable with the controls. But with a little practice, you will be digging holes and trenches on your site. These are great time savers and are affordable to rent.

I want to thank MB Tractors for allowing the use of this excavator to show how easy they are to use. They are fantastic machines. This type equipment can be rented almost everywhere. Just take the time to get a little training and read all the safety warnings so you don't get hurt or hurt someone else.

Remember to call the number for underground utilities before you start digging. It is very important to check out what might be underground before you dig in.

August 1, 2012 AsktheBuilder Newsletter & Tips

Posted on by Tim Carter

Building the new shed at my house has consumed me. That's why there was no newsletter last week. Tremendous progress has been made in a short amount of time. Check out the photo!

Robert Moore & Tim in front of DIY Shed

I'm standing with Robert Moore. He's an AsktheBuilder.com newsletter subscriber with extensive carpentry experience that came up from Towson, MD, to help me for nine days. The first day he was here, it was hot, humid, and all we had were eight piers staring at us along with eight very large holes in the ground that had to be filled in.

Robert's self-employed like I am. His day job is helping people with their PCs. He's a one-man geek squad! Don't let the Spartan appearance of his website fool you. He knows his stuff. Kathy and I discovered his Achilles Heel is ice cream - homemade chocolate ice cream made with hot custard.

The weather moderated and my good friends in Canada sent us some cooler weather! The cool air produced ideal working conditions with lower temperatures and less humidity. We only had one brief rain shower for 15 minutes that chased us away from the site in the first few days.

At the end of nine days, you can see what we got done. This week, if all goes well, I should have the roof complete.

Be sure to look at the bottom of this newsletter. I have a very fast Flash Sale on the entire set of videos that I'm creating. You do not want to miss out this time if you missed out when I launched the shed project on Kickstarter.

 

Tip of the Week - Ads and Mentions in This Newsletter

Have you ever wondered about bad or bogus products?

This is a reminder about product ads and write ups you see in this newsletter. I want you to know that I test and review just about everything I talk about. If I don't actually test it, I'll tell you.

But here's an example of what you don't see. A few weeks ago, I was approached by a company that wanted to buy ads in this newsletter. I asked about the product, and they told me it was a thing that saves money.

Look at the photo as it appears it's some sort of generator. It was some magical product that claimed to save you a huge amount of money on your electric bills. I actually think it's like the time machine in the movie Napoleon Dynamite. That was a funny scene indeed! Remember the crystals?

Here's a link to that funny movie scene.

Picture electric motor

My job is to vet stuff like this. I asked for a sample to be sent to me so I could test it. The company immediately stopped responding to me. They've not sent a unit to test, so that speaks volumes to me. Yesterday, I saw an ad for the exact product on a website I was visiting.

Simply put, I really value my integrity and will not accept advertising money unless I feel the products are of the highest quality. The products I mention here are ones I would use in my own home or on my own job site. Period.

I assume you want me to tell you about products that I would never use, right? If so, please REPLY to this newsletter and tell me.

 

Multi-Purpose Saw Tool

I received in the mail a Savage Folding Jab Saw / Utility Knife. It's a formidable weapon to have in your tool box.

When it's folded up, it's 7 inches long, so it's not going to fit in your pocket. This is why it comes with a soft-sided case that has a belt clip on it.

You can install, in seconds, any regular blade that you might put in a reciprocating saw. That's a big plus. The overall diameter of the tool is fairly substantial. I don't think it would fit well in a woman's hand, but I could be mistaken. The diameter is easily that of any framing hammer I've used.

All in all it's a fascinating tool as it gives you two tools in one. You've got a razor knife coupled with a jab saw that can be outfitted with blades to cut metal, wood or drywall.

This is a tool I'll use primarily for the jab saw function. It's just too big for me to use as my go-to razor knife. I LOVE my Stanley razor knife. I have several in case they ever think of discontinuing it!

Click the two links just below to see the Swanson tool and my absolute favorite razor knife.

Swanson Jab Multi Tool

My Favorite Razor Knife

 

DeWALT Saw Stand Video

Here's a video I taped a few days ago that you should like. If you've never seen this DeWALT miter saw stand, you'll be blown away.

Pocket Door Contest - Please HELP Pick the Winner!

We have our entries in the LE Johnson Pocket Door Contest!

Some are remarkable, and if you go look at the entries, you'll be treated to a video!

Click here to see them.

Please do me a favor and VOTE for a winner. It's easy to go through the entries. The link to the vote ballot is at the above page. Click that link just above.

 

Lumber Species

You may think that all framing lumber is the same. Framing lumber is that which is used to build floors, walls, and roofs. Trim lumber is the fancier lumber used for moldings, bookcases and other interior and exterior finish applications.

I believe to the average person framing lumber pretty much looks the same. However, if you look closely some of it is very different in color. Pick up two same sized pieces of lumber, but of different species, and you'll be stunned by the weight difference.

I was lucky enough to get the Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association to connect me with a New Hampshire lumber yard that stocked southern yellow pine (SYP). It's a fantastic lumber to use when framing.

If you compare it to other lumber, you'll quickly see how strong it is. It's also heavy. There's lots of dense summer wood in southern yellow pine. This contributes significantly to its weight.

Spend some time looking at span tables and you'll quickly see that SYP is almost as strong as Douglas Fir. I'm telling you this so that you know you have choices when building a structure. Some species of lumber are better suited for roof rafters and floor joists than others.

For more great information on wood, I urge you to visit the Real Outdoor Living website.

 

FLASH Video Sale

The sole purpose of my shed project was to create an authoritative step-by-step series of videos about building a shed.

I discovered after the fact it was a big mistake pitching the project that way. It's not about building a shed. It's about you saving Time and Money on any number of projects.

Maybe you just want to know how to install a door. Perhaps you want me to show you how to layout a wall. That's what all these videos are about. Hundreds and hundreds of tips. There are at least 30 different aspects or parts to the overall series. A partial list is just below. For the FULL list, just go here.

What I'm really creating is a collection of DIY videos that show you how to do any number of tasks. For example, would you like to know how to:

  • layout a simple foundation
  • excavate for a pier
  • install a concrete pier
  • frame a wood floor
  • install asphalt shingles
  • install an exterior door
  • install a skylight
  • etc.

You get the point. Watching all of these videos shows you how to build a shed. But just watch a few and you can see how to do one part of the project.

Here are two videos I taped while building the shed you can watch to see the kind of detail and teaching that's going on.

Awesome Concrete Pier Form

Cool Wall-Building Tip

When this shed project was announced here in the newsletter a few months ago, you could have purchased the entire series of videos for $30. That opportunity is now gone.

But for the next few days, you can invest just $50 for the entire series. That's an insanely low price. Why? When all the videos are done, each *part* of the series will probably sell for $7-9 each.

Since there are 30 distinct aspects of the shed-building project, you can see that if you purchased each video series separately, you'd spend over $200. Multiply 30 times $7 or $9.

Watch this video that explains what's going on.

Just watching ONE of my videos could save you $50. Heck, the one video that shows you how to expertly square up the floor would save you that in headache pills!

Originally, I thought there would be about 100 videos in the entire set. I was wrong. There will be many more. How many? I don't know. I already have about 60 completed, and I've not even finished framing the roof!

Here's what's going to happen. Each week, the price of the entire video set is going to go up. If you want the current best price, you need to act now.

Next Monday, August 6th, the price will jump to $69. Each week after that the price will go up as I add more videos to the package.

Act NOW and you get all the videos I create about the shed for just $50.

This sale ends on Sunday, August 5th, at midnight ET. Make sure you're one that gets the entire series for the $50 price. I can't ever imagine the price being lower. Invest in the series NOW to get this huge value that will save you time and money.

If you decide to make this investment, realize that you'll not get access to the videos until the project is COMPLETE. I envision you'll get access to the videos late in September. You need to be patient. I'll get the videos to you, but you need to let me finish the shed first. I can't create a video until I do the job, right?

Right now I'm too busy building the shed to help edit the videos and write the comments that accompany them.

DeWALT Saw Stand Tips Video

Posted on by Tim Carter

Hi, I'm Tim Carter and I want to talk about a really great saw stand. This is a tool accessory that you would use to mount a miter box saw, or really any type saw. Frequently, a carpenter would use a saw stand out in the field, in your driveway or anywhere they need to set up a saw. The stand is extremely helpful in keeping the saw stable and assists when cutting long lengths of wood.

This DeWalt Saw Stand is one of the best engineered tool accessories I have seen. If you knew how saws were setup in the old days, before saw stands like this, you would understand how great this is.

The stand is made of aluminum with folding legs. The saw stand has slotted rails for mounting the compound miter box saw and bolting it in place. It includes a bolt kit that will allow mounting of just about any saw. The mounting brackets can moved right and left on the saw stand to position your saw where you want it.

A great feature of this saw stand are the end supports. They slide in and out and are adjustable over a long distance. The end plate on the end supports is the proper height to match the table height of the saw. This keeps the lumber nice and lever as it is being cut. The end supports also provide a positive stop so you can repeat cutting lumber to the same length without measuring each piece.

Extending the end supports on both sides of the saw stand, allows cutting long pieces of lumber with the lumber fully supported.

Once you remove the saw from the stand, the legs collapse and fold down. There is a handle under the stand for ease of carrying it. The DeWALT 7232 Saw Stand is a remarkable tool accessory. And I highly recommend it.

You can see that these saw stands are great tools. You want to get one if your project calls for cutting a lot of lumber with a miter box saw. It provides a stable platform for your saw. Beats the upside-down garbage cans or stacks of lumber to hold the saw in the good old-days.

Saw Stand Tips and Options

Posted on by Tim Carter

DEAR TIM: I'm tired of setting my miter saw on a board balanced on two garbage cans. I'm looking for stability, safety and ease of use. What kind of saw stand do you use and why did you select it? What did you do before you had one? If you can't afford a fancy saw stand, what can you do to compromise? Oscar P., Woodbridge, VA

DEAR OSCAR: In the old days when I was a young buck carpenter, I did the same thing you did. I set my saw up on a 2x12 that was balanced between two overturned garbage cans. It was a crude method, but it worked. The hard part was creating a level platform where material being cut was at the same height as the table of the miter saw.

I've seen many different solutions to this problem over the years. Any number of carpenters have built their own platforms, tables, etc. to create a workstation at a job site. I'm sure many of these work well.

I graduated from the garbage cans to carpenter benches I used to make from scrap 2x12s. You could make these any height you wanted so they'd be comfortable, but the issue was always stability. As the bench got taller, it became very top heavy. Once you add a heavy miter saw to it, it became even more likely to tip over.

Then there was always the problem of uneven ground. If you had the carpenters benches set up on a lawn, construction site or anyplace where the ground was humpy, you constantly fought trying to keep the stand level and stable.

To cut long material, such as 16-foot lumber, you'd have to set up satellite carpenters benches that were tough to get into the same plane as the bench the saw rested on. I'm sure you can see the challenges.

This is the ultimate saw stand. It beats out setting saws on garbage cans and makeshift platforms. Photo Credit: Tim Carter

Recently I finally switched to a manufactured saw stand that undoubtedly came out of the mind of an engineer or two that's struggled like you, I and millions of other carpenters.

The aluminum stand I use has brackets that allow you to mount just about any miter saw to the stand. That's an enormous advantage. Attaching the brackets to a saw takes but minutes. The brackets are equipped with spring-loaded clamps that allow you to place the saw at an infinite number of positions on the stand. This comes in handy when you're cutting very long material.

The sturdy folding legs open wide at the base providing astounding stability. Once the stand is set up and all four legs are in contact with the ground or a floor, the saw stand is rock solid.

Telescoping supports that slide out from each end of the stand produce the needed support when cutting long material. These have been engineered so they are in the same plane as the flat table of the miter saw. No matter how high the flat table is off the stand, you can adjust the supports so they match that height.

These telescoping supports are engineered to act as material stops as well. They have brackets that rotate up or down allowing you to adjust them to act as a small wall. You simply adjust the distance of this stop from the cutting blade and it allows you to cut multiple pieces of lumber the same length without having to measure each piece. That's an enormous time saver.

The stand I use is affordable, but if your budget won't allow it, you can mimic what it does by creating your own wood benches that are more stable than the ones I made many years ago. The biggest issue you'll discover is the benches will become heavy and they'll take up lots of room in your garage.

There's nothing wrong using modern collapsible saw horses, a 2x8-foot piece of plywood, a few 2x6's and some hardware to create a temporary workstation that acts as a fantastic saw stand. If you think about this, you could create your own system that breaks down and sets up in minutes.

Some carpenters create saw stands where the saw is lower than the flat surfaces on either side of the miter saw. There's nothing wrong with this method at all. The flat surfaces on either side of the saw make for a superb work surface to ensure cuts are square and the material being cut is always stable.

The key is to create a system that can be put up and taken down in minutes, is not cumbersome, and ideally can be done by one person.

You can watch a saw stand video that contains secret tips at www.AsktheBuilder.com. Simply type "saw stand video" into the search engine at www.AsktheBuilder.com. There are MANY ADDITIONAL wall-building tips at www.AsktheBuilder.com.

Column 946

Pocket Door Contest Entries

Posted on by Tim Carter

VOTE FOR A WINNER: CLICK HERE

Here are the entries for the LE Johnson Pocket Door Giveaway.

Please read all the entries and then follow your heart.

If you vote for the person that really deserves the LE Johnson Pocket Door Hardware kit, your wildest dreams will come true. Seriously.

May the best entry win!

Tim Carter

For MORE INFORMATION about LE Johnson Pocket Doors, click here.

 
Donna Jones

I live in a 1969 brick home that I bought 5 ½ years ago. As a single person, retired, and a woman, it is expensive and difficult to afford the repairs and replacement items that are continually needed. The sliding bedroom doors do not stay in and I have taken one out afraid it would fall on grandchildren when they visit. I would like to one day make that closet a small bathroom. This is where I would like a pocket door. My bedroom is small and it would be nice to have extra wall to place bedroom furniture. I have plaster walls. So how does it work?

 
Kevin Shawler

Our door between our utility room and half bath is poorly designed for ease of functionality. A pocket door would be more ideal.

 
Jim Ruggierro

A pocket door should have been installed by the home builder in between the master bath and the master bedroom, but for some reason was not, so whilst one is lying in bed, and I or my spouse need to use the facility, there is a "straight shot - line of sight " to the "event" transpiring, including sound! I don't need a "150-word" explanation of why I would LOVE to have a little more privacy now and then for such occasions...

 
Ed Santos

I would love to build an extension onto are closet as her clothes are jammed to one side because she cannot reach that far back to make efficient use of the space. She is only five foot two and that is quite a reach for her. With a pocket door installed I can build a small platform in front of it so she can reach the top of the rack and won't have to stand on her tiptoes to reach the hanger. I know this is not a large opening but every little bit helps when you live in a mobile home. We are senior citizens so this may be the last thing I can do for her.

 
Joe Parks

My wife and I have lived in our house for 33 years and she has always wanted our pocket door replaced. I have replaced a lot of things in our house over the years and the pocket door is the only thing she has ever asked for, so this request for the door is for her. We are close to retirement and I am trying to update while I still can. Thanks so much.

 
Nony Capellan

We have 2 pocket doors and both are sticky opening and closing, one does not close fully and leaves a scratch line but do not know what causes. Something is wrong with the hardware, installation, or both. Would be very happy to get a good solution to the problem as we love to have a properly working pocket doors. Thank you and best regards.

 
Mona Greer

I would love to win this for my daughter as she owns her home and I don't ... can't install anything here where I live :(she has so many doors in her 3-bedroom home, installing a Pocket Door would be great. I absolutely love the pocket doors, if you've never had them, well you are missing out on a great invention. Would love to have them where I live, but like I said impossible, so I'm trying to win one for her. She would love it. When opened, they take up no space at all and you have more room to rearrange your furniture. Like in one of my bedrooms, I cannot open the door all the way back, because of the stupid door, have a night stand that will only fit one place and the door is in the way. So I am making the best of a bad situation, why they did not install pocket doors here, and why anyone would even build a home and not put pocket doors would be a big mistake to me. Please check into the pocket doors, try just one you will love them 🙂 Thanks Tim 🙂

 
Alice Thompson

Have tiny house and bathroom only 4 x 6. Also have disabled child in wheelchair. Pocket door would enable more access to the bathroom in wheeling in son for bath. Also think they look sophisticated. Would love to win!

 
John Thompson

Our family of four lives in a little cape in New Hampshire but we only have one bathroom. So you can imagine that our bathroom gets quite a bit of traffic having two children around the age of 10. So we would love to install a surface pocket door for our bathroom in our small cape. There is a small linen closet right inside the bathroom. When that linen closet door is open, it knocks into the bathroom door. To top things off, there is a short shower/tub wall that provides less than two inches of clearance between the door and wall. So those two doors and shower wall really makes it difficult to enter our only bathroom. Installing a LE Johnson surface mount pocket door would prevent many bruised knuckles and foreheads when entering the bathroom. Check out our video for a demonstration of the tricky door situation.

 
Lee Hemphill

This door used to be an outside door in which the previous homeowners installed a doggie door (we don't own a dog). Behind the door is a 7ft x 15ft room which is the laundry room and storage. Getting items in and out of the room is troublesome since the door takes up nearly half the width of the room when opened. It's hollow core and has unfortunately encountered a couple of mishaps where items piled in the laundry room fell on it and a family member tripped against it, resulting in holes in the door which I cannot repair. It's not only unsightly, but guests always think it's an exit door. A pocket door would solve the problem of space and guests would not try to exit into my embarrassing laundry room!

 
Sarah Yost

I have two reasons, one named Clara and one named Evelyn. Sure, they look sweet, but they're trouble. The older one (2) likes to open and close doors, often when the younger one (9 months) is in the path of the door swing. Putting pocket doors in the most frequented areas of the house will save untold amounts of money in ER bills. It will probably save my sanity, too, or whatever is left of it.

 
Heidi Halvorson

In 2007, our little town was devastated by a flood that involved 3/4 of the homes and businesses including my in home child care. As of yet, we have not had the cash or the energy to redo our basement where we had our bedroom and our son's. It has been almost 5 years and now it is FINALLY time to attack the basement. Yeah!! I am wanting to use 2 - 6 foot wide pocket type doors as dividers to create 2 walls in a portion of what was the living room. I want it to appear open, but when my disabled brother in-law comes to visit, he can close both pocket doors and have privacy for sleeping. The rest of the time, I would use that space for exercise equipment. I am hoping to win this contest so we can move on with our project. Thanks for considering our project.

 
Brent Clary

To be honest, I am really wanting to tackle this project for my lovely wife! I know that this would be a great addition to our living room. This is something that she has mentioned before and, until now, I was not sure how this could be possible. So please, "help an Aggie out" to win some brownie points!!

 
Miriam Cavazos

Ever since I was a little girl, I would get this "Oh wow!" expression on my face when I would see movies where pocket doors were closed- so dramatic! Finally at age 30, I purchased land and had a small home built. A pocket door would put the finishing touch on a dream accomplished by this single gal.

 

VOTE FOR A WINNER: CLICK HERE