Sanding Tips Video

Posted on by Tim Carter

Does your project requires a lot of sanding? There are some really good mechanical tools and handheld tools available. If you have a lot of sanding, consider using a belt sander. Belt sanders work fast and you can switch the belts quickly. Belt grits range from coarse to fine.

For smaller sanding projects, look at one of the handheld oscillating or orbital sanders. These palm sanders come in two styles. One uses a circular sanding pad with holes in it. The holes suck up the dust as you sand. The other style uses a rectangular piece of sand paper and vibrate as it sands.

A new product is sandpaper that is attached to a piece of foam. These soft foam sanding pads allow you to sand items with difficult curves or round surfaces. The pads are reusable. Just rinse it out and start sanding.

If you pick the right tool, sanding does not have to be such a rough job!

House Paint Video

Posted on by Tim Carter

Everyone has to paint either the inside or outside of their house at some time. What is the best paint to buy? Here are some tips.

Look on the can for the words acrylic polymer and vinyl polymer. The best paint is 100% acrylic. Acrylic resins are very stretchable and resist the expansion and contraction of wood. This helps them last a long time.

The vinyl paints are ideal for items that get repainted very few years. It does not last quite as long.

There are some new paint that go on almost twice as thick as normal paint. They come with a lifetime warranty against peeling and blistering. That will be the next paint used on Tim's home.

Hardware Store Video

Posted on by Tim Carter

The Tri-State area is lucky to have an abundance of old fashion hardware stores. They offer a variety of goods that you just can not find in other places. Have a problem with flies? This hardware store has fly paper in stock.

Many of these stores carry an assortment of old fashion tools, such as oil cans. Great for oiling your lawnmower. See you still need them.

You can find an assortment of corks in these stores. Perhaps you need to stop up a bottle or piece of tubing.

Wire - thin, copper, steel, stainless - is available at your local hardware store.

Nearly all these hardware stores have racks for hardware, such as stainless bolts, nuts and washers. They are available in machine screw type or wood screw. Stainless hardware is great for outdoor use when you do not want to worry about rust.

You can find a variety of items at your local hardware story and personal service. Shop one today!

Surge Protector Video

Posted on by Tim Carter

In the spring and early summer, you can experience a lot of thunderstorms. With these storms comes the possibility of lightning. If the lightning strikes a nearby power line, a power surge can travel into your home through your electric meter. Inside the house, it goes on a search and destroy mission - looking for televisions, VCR's, microwaves, computers, laptops or any electronic device.

How can you stop these power spikes? First, install a whole house surge protection. These devices attach right next to your electric panel. They feature audible alarms and diagnostic lights to check if it is working.

Next, purchase point of use surge protections to use at each electronic device. Be sure to get one with a test light. Surge protectors wear out over time. Check them regularly to see if they are still functioning.

A surge protector that is five to 10 years old, may be worn out. Replace them often. An electrician should be used to install a whole house protector.

Grout Sealer Video

Posted on by Tim Carter

Ceramic tile is very popular in the Tri-State area. It is found in the bathroom, shower stalls and in the kitchen. The common complaint is how do you keep the grout clean?

Grout gets dirty because it has a very porous surface. Close up, it would look like a sponge. Lots of openings to trap dirt, scrum and soap. That is what the mildew eats and feeds on. So, how do you stop that from happening? You need to seal the grout.

Get some clear grout sealer. These sealers will fills in those holes and crevices to food and soap can not get trapped in the grout. Most sealers have a little application brush build right in.

After each shower, use a squeeze to remove any excess water off the tile and grout. Leave the shower door or shower curtain open to get good ventilation into the shower. This will allow the tile to dry as rapidly as possible.

Flower Boxes Video

Posted on by Tim Carter

Looking for a gift for your Mother or Wife? Why not consider a new fiberglass flower box? These can be installed under windows, sitting on patio walls or any place outside the house. These new fiberglass window flower boxes are light weight and low maintenance. They can be painted to match your decor.

The flower box includes stainless steel mounting brackets and hardware. No rust! There are drainage holes built into the box. Allows the excess water to run out of the box. Your flowers won't drown. Many have a bottom filter to replace the gravel you had to put down first in older flower boxes.

Fiberglass flower boxes are available at garden centers, or check the yellow pages. Or connect to the internet and search for fiberglass flower boxes in your favorite search engine.

Framing Square Angles Video

Posted on by Tim Carter

When most people talk about power tools, they talk about circular saws and drills. But there is another powerful tool out there. It is the framing square!

What does it allow you to do? Lots of things. Most importantly, these allow you to cut roof rafters. This is needed for building a dog house, home roof, room addition or a garage.

How do they work? The framing square consists of two legs. The thinner leg is called the tongue. The fatter arm is the body of the square. The tongue is usually 16" long and the body 24".

Knowing the pitch of the roof you want to build, for example 4" of rise in 12" of run or 12" in 12", you use the framing square to make your marks. Holding the square on the lumber, the proper slope lines can be made on the piece.

Get a saw, a framing square and some scrap lumber and give it a try. In no time, you will be cutting roof rafters.

Deck Pressure Washer Video

Posted on by Tim Carter

Deck Pressure Washer Video

EB015 Cleaning & Sealing Deck eBoo Cover

Is it too late for your deck? Has a pressure washer attacked it? A power washer can ruin your deck. Wood consists of two sections, spring wood and summer wood. Spring wood is the light colored wood in between the darker rings of grain. The spring wood is really soft and a pressure washer can tear this wood out of the lumber. This results in really grainy wood that needs a lot of sanding to get it back to a smooth surface.

What's the best way to clean a wood deck? One great alternative is oxygen bleach. Oxygen bleach is nontoxic and mixes with water. Once mixed, pour it on the deck and let it sit for 10 - 15 minutes. Then, lightly scrub it with a scrub brush on a pole. Finally, rinse it with a garden hose and the wood will look like new.

Using oxygen bleach, there is no erosion to the wood. Very safe. It is the only way to go. Stay away from those power washers.

Message from Tim:

Years ago while researching a column about cleaning decks, I discovered the wonders of Oxygen Bleach. It is perhaps the 'greenest' cleaner I know of as it uses oxygen ions to break apart stains, dirt and odor molecules. There are no harsh chemicals, and it works on just about anything that is water washable.

I decided to create my own special blend using ingredients made in the USA. In fact, the raw materials in the active ingredient are food-grade quality registered with the FDA. I call my product Stain Solver. I urge you to use it to help with cleaning your wood deck. You will be amazed at the results!

Read about the dangers of pressure washing, as mentioned in the March 23, 2010 AsktheBuilder Newsletter and the June 21, 2011 Newsletter.

Drill Bits Video

Posted on by Tim Carter

Does your project require you to constantly be changing drill bits? Try one of these new drill bit kits. A snap-lock drill kit features a quick change drill chuck. Mount the special chuck in your drill and you can then change drill bits or screw driver bits in a snap.

Also included is a combination drill bit that has a drill for drilling a pilot hole and a countersink bit. You drill the hole and countersink it all in one pass. After drilling the hole, just flip the bit around and the Phillips head screwdriver bit is on the other end. This one bit does the job of three bits.

Have you had problems drilling in screws and they fall over? A special screwdriver bit features a sliding collar that slides down over the screw holding it in place as you drive it.

If you want your next job to be a snap, just use the right tools.

Wood Siding Video

Posted on by Tim Carter

When your project includes the addition or installation of wood siding, there are some steps to follow to ensure that your siding and the paint lasts a long time. First, be sure to primer and pre-paint the siding before it is put up. If a piece of siding has to be cut, prime the cut end before installing. That is where water can be sucked into the wood and cause the paint to fail.

If you make yourself a gage block, you will have evenly spaced siding. Cut the block to match the exposure of the siding. Hold it against the board just below the one you are installing. Set the new piece on the top of the spacer and it will be the correct distance each time.

One last tip, put a piece of metal flashing between the joint where two pieces of siding butt together. In case the siding ends separate, the flashing will keep water out.

Just follow these quick tips, and your siding installation project will go smoothly, last a long time and look great.