Working with your hands
For most of you, I don’t have to go on about what this entails. But it seems that many people have missed out on the tribulations and of course the absolute joy of hands on, head scratching labors. See this New York Times article. I’ve been erratic in my postings of late. My knees and [...]
One Tough Little Miter Saw
When I first saw one of these Makita mini-sliding compound miter saws on a job site, it looked like a play school version of a grown-ups saw. It’s a tiny thing, and I couldn’t imagine wanting to use it in place of my 12-inch sliding compound miter saw. But, you know the old saying: Big [...]
Taking the smell out of a skunked dog
While I know this has damn little to do with carpentry, it has to do with my day to day partner in the truck. I take my dog, Liza, to work with me as often as I can. She’s a great ice breaker and doesn’t let anyone near my (her) truck. Last night, my wife [...]
How to Repair a Damaged Compressor Hose
It’s a sure fire, son-of-a-bitch moment when you’re about to install a tricky piece of trim and you hear a hiss so loud you think it’s a snake with a megaphone. But the reality is, you’ve damaged your compressor hose. It happens. You don’t have to toss the hose, though. A repair is pretty simple.
I [...]
Low VOC Construction Adhesive
Last year I had to install bamboo plywood instead of drywall along the interior walls of an addition. Talk about pricey. The architect had specified a solvent free construction adhesive to be used for the installation, and I remember one carpenter saying, “This stuff’ll never hold, smell it.” I didn’t give it a whiff. I [...]
Mighty Miter Clamps
Collins Miter Clamps are the third hand I’m glad I have. When dealing with a fussy assembly, whether it’s on the job or for a woodworking project in my shop, these little spring clamps are a real help. Before discovering these clamps, I’d span the miter with my hand, apply pressure to the glued joint, [...]
Save Your Back With A Toro Dingo
Hot-Diggity-Dog my life just got a w(hole) lot easier.
With spring still a ways off for us in the Northeast, planning for a great outdoor project is the right antidote to winter. Many of you are thinking decks, fences, pergolas, or gardens. Such plans rarely consider the “my aching back” reality of such efforts. Suffer if [...]
Why I Prefer Bostitch Nail Guns
I run a few miles of crown molding every year, or so it seems. That’s a lot of overhead work. And having a lightweight nail gun is a blessing. My Bostitch N62FNK-2 15 Gauge 1-Inch to 2-1/2-Inch Angled Finish Nailer weighs in at a tidy 3.8 pounds and is one of the lightest 15-gauge guns [...]
A New Way To Cut Drywall
Goldblatt Blade Runner
Is this the end of the handy, dandy drywall knife? It might be. If nothing else, this tool looks like its a blast to use. The quick video is entertaining as all get out, too.
Who knew cutting drywall could be so much fun? Certainly not me, until now.
This would make a great [...]
Why didn’t he stop?
In the early 1980’s I worked on a framing crew. My boss was a descendant of Ahab, or so I believed then. But, I do remember him saying his mother’s maiden name was Bligh. We worked through all kinds of weather, except lightening storms. If the lightening was just a flash we kept working, if [...]
keep looking »About
I’m a sawdust making, tool buying, work boot wearing kind of guy. When I’m not building something useful, usually for someone else, I’m writing about it for Fine Homebuilding or This Old House. I’ve spent most of my adult life honing my craft and now I want to share what I’ve learned. From tool reviews to how-to this blog will explore a bunch of interesting stuff. So strap on a tool belt or crack a cold one and let’s have some fun.
