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Family Handyman
How To Sharpen Scissors Effectively
From fabric scissors and kitchen shears to the plastic-handled snips stuffed in a junk drawer, scissors are often the best way to make quick work of cutting tasks around the house. But dull scissors take longer to get the job done, can damage the material being cut and create a safety hazard as you use excessive force with each snip.
How To Fix Peeling Paint
There’s nothing quite as satisfying as standing back and admiring a newly finished paint job. What’s less satisfying is if that same paint job begins to bubble and peel just a few months later. I’ve been called in to fix mysterious paint peeling issues for customers who just can’t understand where they went wrong.
6 Tips for Making Perfect Cuts With Circular and Miter Saws
Cut cleaner and safer with your miter saw and circular saw. Take the worry out of making tough cuts like plunge cuts and miter cuts on wide boards, short boards and even tiny boards. 1 / 6. Let Cutoffs Drop Free to Avoid Binding the Blade. Cutting the end off...
When Was Lead Paint Banned?
If you live in a home built before 1978, it’s important to understand the history of lead paint regulation. Exposure to lead paint during renovation and repainting projects carries serious health implications. As a homeowner and landlord in New England, I know firsthand the seriousness of lead paint exposure. I had it removed from several properties to keep my family and tenants safe.
What Are the Different Types of Plywood Grades?
Whether you work in construction or in a wood shop, plywood is a material you can’t avoid. I’ve used it outdoors to sheath roofs and walls, indoors for subfloors and room dividers, and in the shop for multiple cabinet and furniture projects. Obviously, the plywood you use to...
Why You Should Use a Random Orbital Sander for Sanding Cabinets
We asked four woodworkers and our home own editors the same question: “What is the best sander to buy for finishing cabinets”. And we got a unanimous response: “Buy a random orbital sander.”. What Is a Random Orbital Sander?. Also know as a random orbit sander, it’s...
Repainting Painted Wood Floors: A How-To Guide
It's quick and easy to refresh those dingy, dinged-up floors. Read on to learn the steps. Painting a hardwood floor can help extend its lifespan and give your room a unique, colorful look. Tools Required. broom. Bucket. Mop. Paint brush (2 in. or personal preference) Paint roller with extension handle.
7 Best Small Dehumidifiers to Fight Dampness, Tested and Reviewed
We put the best small dehumidifiers to the test in the humid U.S. South. Here's which ones provided the most relief from excess moisture. Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases. Excess humidity can make you feel hot and sticky,...
10 Expert Tips for How to Use a Wood Router
Go beyond the basics. Use your wood router to make strong joints, plane edges, cut smooth curves and more. If you want to make biscuit joints, you don’t have to buy a biscuit joiner. In most cases, a wood router with a 5/32-in. slot bit can cut perfect slots to fit the biscuits. Here’s how to do it:
How To Stain Furniture
Transform furniture with stain and protect it for the long haul. Staining is by far my favorite way to convert plain wood into a conversation piece. I've finished and refinished furniture for more than a decade using paint, stain and oils. For this project I also consulted with Corey Kreps, a wood finisher at my favorite hardwoods store, for insider tips to share with you here.
Cool New Shrubs To Grow in Your Yard
Flowering shrubs are ready for their moment, thanks to the work of plant breeders. See what's new and improved with these recent introductions. No longer relegated to a supporting role in the landscape, today’s shrubs are ready for the spotlight. For this, thank plant breeders. They’ve developed new varieties that offer a distinct improvement over what came before them.
9 Clamp Storage Ideas to Declutter Your Workshop
Find the right clamp when you need it! Here's a great collection of tips for storing all the different clamps you need for all types of projects. This handy undermount rack keeps your clamps right where you need them. Simply cut a series of 1-1/4-in.-dia. holes along the center line of a 2×6, then rip the 2×6 in half to create the half-circle slots.
What Is a Ball Valve and Why Should I Use Them In My Home?
Imagine you didn’t have shutoff valves at each plumbing fixture in your home. Besides violating nearly every plumbing code, you’d have to shut off the water to your entire house to work on any faucet or toilet. That’s really inconvenient. And that’s why every fixture has a shutoff valve, often called an angle stop valve.
Yeti’s New Stackable Cups Are the Perfect Camp Coffee Accessory
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases. I didn’t start drinking coffee until my late 20s. To be frank, I didn’t need the added energy, nor did I enjoy the taste. However, as I got older, I soon realized that I simply hadn’t found the type of coffee that suited me. Finding my perfect roast was similar to Goldilocks finding the perfect porridge. It had to be just right. Once I found my brew, I started adding to my coffee collection by way of coffee makers, frothers and other accessories.
The Eleven Percent: Samantha Pearl and Emily Pearl Reist, My Handyma’am Founders
This FH series introduces readers to a few of the women who make up 11 percent of the construction workforce in the United States, spotlighting stories of their careers in the field. Know someone we should feature? Email us here. Samantha Pearl was 25 years into an administrative career in...
Why Higher OSHA Fines Are Coming In 2024
Bad news is coming for safety violators: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has increased the maximum penalty for violations. But what do these higher OSHA fines mean, and how much are they? Here’s a quick breakdown on these job site changes. Why Is OSHA Increasing Fines?. As...
What Is Anti-Seize Compound and Why Should I Use It on My Car?
Corroded, frozen or seized parts and hardware can quickly turn an inexpensive 10-minute fix into an all-day, really costly repair. When working as a technician for a Pontiac dealership many years ago, I cringed every time I worked on a Trans Am. Fabulous cars, yes. But their honeycomb wheels were made from cast aluminum.
How To Build a Planter Box for Your Deck Railing
Add a little greenery to your outdoor refuge with this easy-to-build planter box that sits on the railing. Got leftover wood? Try this compact project. It takes about a day to build and you don’t need a lot of woodworking skills to give it a try. Tools Required. 18-gauge...
How To Remove Duct Tape Residue
Let’s get this straight: Is it “duct” tape or “duck” tape?. Believe it or not, historically, it’s the latter. This fabric tape with its strong pressure-sensitive adhesive was developed during World War II as a waterproof (like a duck’s back!) fix-all for emergency repairs. Though it wasn’t recommended for mending metal ductwork, homeowners began using it that way when the war ended.
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