Custom Wood Work Video

Posted on by Tim Carter

Do you have an older home and you are trying to find a match for some existing woodwork? Or building a new home or room addition and want that special look that is all you own? You need custom millwork.

Provide a drawing or sample of your custom wood profile and a specialty mill house will make a wood knife to match your pattern. They will put the knife on a shaper and cut your lumber. The result is woodwork made to your special design.

Just contact your local lumber yard and see if they do custom millwork. This is a little more expensive, but you can match the exact pattern you require.

Fix A Broken Door Knob Video

Posted on by Tim Carter

Fix A Broken Door Knob

Do you have a loose door knob? With just a few tools, you can tighten that door knob. You will need a small flat head screwdriver, a Phillips head screwdriver and a regular size flat head screwdriver.

On the inside of the door, there will be a small spring loaded metal piece under the door knob. Push in that piece with the small screwdriver. This will allow you to pop the knob off the door. Once this is removed, you can take off the chrome or brass trim plate. This will expose the screws that hold the door knob assembly together. Tighten these two screws, replace the trim plate and put the knob back on.

That is how simple it is to tighten up that loose door knob. A few screwdrivers and a few minutes and your door knob will be good as new.

2×4 Quality Tips Video

Posted on by Tim Carter

If your next remodeling project involves purchasing some 2x4 studs, here are a few tips on selecting these boards. There are certain things to look for when you buy lumber. First, remember that 2x4s are not 2" x 4". They measure 1-1/2" x 3-1/2". Next, check for crown and bow.

Crown is any curve or bend in the stud when viewing it down the edge. A bow is a curve when looking down the side. It is okay to purchase some studs that have are crowned or bowed. But, you will also need straight studs. Straight studs will be required when working around doorways and at corners. You want these locations to have straight pieces of lumber.

To check for the possibility of the lumber twisting, look at the end grain. You are looking for vertical grain, where the 2x4 was cut out of the center of the tree. These generally indicate the 2x4s that are the most stable.

Some 2x4s will have defects on the edge. This is called the wane. The missing area will not be a problem if these studs are used as packing studs, used along side the door frame studs.

You can purchase a variety of 2x4 studs. Get some that are straight and some with bends or defects. They will find a place in your project. Just choice wisely.

Y2K Video

Posted on by Tim Carter

Will Y2K be something to worry about?? Better be prepared just in case. What should you do to prepare for possible disruptions in electrical and other services. If you about to lose power for a length of time in cold weather, you will need to drain your plumbing system. Getting the water out of the pipes will keep them from bursting if the water inside freezes. Close off the main water valve to your house. Then open some water faucets that are low in your house. This is drain the water out of the pipes. Flush the toilets to remove the water in them.

Stock pile some water in plastic jugs or 2 liter pop bottles. If you use milk jugs, be sure to completely rinse out the bottles with water. All the milk has to be removed or the water will taste bad.

Get some flashlights and spare batteries. A battery powered radio should also be added to your Y2K survival kit. This will provide some connection with the outside world.

Sleeping bags or extra blankets will provide warmth for those nights without power. If you have a fireplace, stock up on fire wood.

As we know now, Y2K did not disrupt services. Computers continued to function and the year 2000 entered without any major problems. However, these tips are still useful if you know you will be without electrical services for an extended period. Some of Mother Nature's storms have knocked out more power than Y2K. Stay prepared.

Hand and Power Tools Video

Posted on by Tim Carter

Do you have to purchase some tool gifts for a handy person you know? If so, check out these tools. The first batch are must have for any workshop. They include ....

  • Anti-vibration hammer. This type hammer has less arm fatigue and damage.
  • Aluminum framing square.
  • Retractable razor knife.
  • A 30 foot tape measure with a 1" wide blade.
  • Two foot level.
  • Pry bar that works like a traditional crow bar.
  • Rubber sanding block.
  • Adjustable wrench.
  • Needlenose pliers.
  • Combination wire stripper and wire cutter.
  • Set of screw drivers with both straight blade and Phillips heads.
  • Chalk line.
  • Professional caulk gun.
  • Hack Saw.
  • Putty knifes.

  • And you have to have a power circular saw and power drill. Cordless types, with batteries of 18 volts or greater, are great additions to the toolbox.

Now for the dream tool list ...

  • Impulse nail gun.
  • Wet/dry shop vac.
  • 14 inch pipe wrench.
  • Stainless drywall knifes and mud pan.

Basic tools are needed for any project or repair. When you purchase tools, be sure to buy quality tools. They last longer and you get a great value.

Cleaning Up Oil Spills Video

Posted on by Tim Carter

Have you ever had a delivery truck, a friend's car, or even your own car leave an oil stain of your driveway? Do not panic; it can be cleaned. The trick is to act quickly.

If you have a brand new oil stain, take some paper towels and blot up the excess oil. Be sure to dispose of those oily towels as quickly as possible. Spontaneous combustion is a possibility, so get rid of them quickly, do not store them in the garage for any period of time.

Once the excess oil is gone, get some liquid dish washing soap and pour it on the stain. Using some water and a good scrub brush, and start scrubbing the spill area. Rinse the area off with a garden hose to check the results. If the oil stain is not completely gone, you may have to clean it a second or third time.

If it is a fresh oil stain, it should clean up with no leftover marks. Give it a few days and it should look as good as new. Just be sure to act quickly.

Coping Saw Video

Posted on by Tim Carter

Have you ever cut two pieces of woodwork at 45 degrees and go to put them together and they do not match? This happens when you cut perfect 45 degree angles with your miter box saw, but the room corners are not 90 degrees. How do we fix this? Cut corners like the old German carpenters. Cope the corner.

It is not necessary to cut angles on both pieces of trim. Cut a straight edge on one piece and place it in the corner. Then you slide the other piece with the profile cut on the end into the first piece. How do you do that?

You can either trace the profile onto the piece of trim from the other section. But that is to hard. An easier way is to use your miter saw. Cut a 45 degree angle with the outside angle. Then take the coping saw and cut the wood at the point where the face of the woodwork meetings the cut end. Cut it back at a slight angle.

This will match up with the other piece with very little or no gap at all.

Gutter Cleaning Video

Posted on by Tim Carter

The fall is a great time of year. However, those leaves get every where. Including in your gutters. How do you get the leaves out of the gutters? The are a few alternatives.

A time consuming method is to set up a ladder, climb up with a bucket and pick the leaves out of the gutter and place them in the bucket. Be sure not to over-reach or the ladder could become unstable. You have to climb up and down every few feet to move the ladder.

If your roof has a low pitch, you can climb up on the roof, sit down next to the gutter and pull the leaves out. You can place the leaves in a bucket, a bag or just threw them onto the ground.

OR!!! You can use a power blower! These power blowers are great for blowing out of the gutters and off the roof. Be sure the roof is dry and safe to walk on. Also, wear gym shoes with good traction. The leaves blow off easier if they are dry.

If you have a lot of leaves on your roof and in your gutters, try a power blower. They are quick and easy.

Caulking Video

Posted on by Tim Carter

Just before you paint new or existing woodwork, you need to patch the area where the woodwork touches another surface. To fill in these areas, get a professional caulk gun, acrylic or latex caulk that matches the color of the paint, a bucket of water and a tile grout sponge.

Pick up a good caulk gun at a paint store that sells better grade tools. A tile grout sponge is available at ceramic tile stores. These sponges differ from standard sponges because they have nice soft rounded edges.

Cut the tip to match the size of the crack you are filling. Too big of a hole in the caulk tube and you will have a real mess. Caulk about two feet at a time. Wipe off the excess caulk with your finger. Then, follow with the damp sponge to smooth out the patch and remove any caulk from the surrounding woodwork.

Done right, your paint job will look a lot better without the gaps between the woodwork and the walls.

Rototiller Video

Posted on by Tim Carter

Need to level an area for a garden or other outside project? Try a rototiller. There are smaller ones available from rental stores. These dig up the dirt and make it easier for you to move the dirt around. The smaller baby tillers are light weight and easy to handle. They have smaller 3.5 horsepower engines and are only about 18" wide.

Use the rototiller to cut the dirt several inches deep by making passes in various directions. This breaks up the ground making it easier to move. Once you have moved that loosened dirt out of the way, repeat the process until you have worked down to the desired depth.

Just let the tiller do the work of breaking up the dirt. Then, you just move the dirt around.

Read the November 21, 2014 AsktheBuilder Weekend Warrior for an interesting story on this video.