Don't know the difference between your mohagany and your ash? No sweat. With the I.D. Wood app for your iPhone, you'll look like a pro every time. Simply enter the name of the wood you are investigating and the I.D. Wood will give you its origins, description, woodworking properties, common uses, durability and sustainability. A great tool for carpenters, woodworkers, cabinet makers, hobbyists and wood fetishists. All this knowledge for only $2.99, not bad.
Do you love the look and durability of tropical hardwoods but hate the idea of destroying the rainforest? The Norwegian based company Kebony has found a solution. Their "kebonization" process is a non-toxic treatment that gives softwoods that exist outside of the rainforest like maple and pine the strength of teak and ipe.
The kebonization process involves soaking the wood in furfuryl alcohol, a waste byproduct from sugar cane, that is completely non-toxic, unlike other pressure treating methods. The resulting wood can be used for siding, roofs and decking and is so strong the company claims roofs built using it can last 30 years.
Alas, the company has not yet opened an American office. Until then, the material must be imported from Europe. Kebony, come to the U.S.!
Now you can make your iPhone into an all-in-one carpenter toolkit. The iHandy Carpenter contains a plumb bob to determine the verticality of lines and walls, a surface level, bubble level bar, steel protractor and steel ruler. Priced at $1.99, it's got to be the most affordable set of tools I've seen in a kit.
While some guys love their power tools, others prefer the artistry involved in woodworking with hand tools. For 25 years, Roy Underhill has hosted the PBS show The Woodwright's Shop and been a strong advocate of historical woodworking methods. Mother Earth News has an in-depth interview with him in which he discusses how he got involved in the movement and suggestions on how to get started.
Some home improvement projects need more than a little Nike-like, "just do it" encouragement. "I'll Get Around to It!" is a great article on BeJane.com that examines why we procrastinate and why delaying daunting tasks only makes them harder. It also gives some useful techniques to enable you to tackle new projects without hesitation.
One tip, for instance, is one that I can relate to: Avoid perfection. "Perfection is essential when it comes to building a space shuttle," the article says, "but not so much when painting your bedroom. If you're a bit of a perfectionist it's probably affecting your ability to start a project. Learn to ease up on yourself. Perfection in home improvement is a relatively unachievable goal, so don't convince yourself otherwise."
Point well taken. I guess I shouldn't obsess over getting the painter's tape just right.
Way back in 2006 I wrote about an enterprising Australian converting his old television into a working aquarium. Now there's a web page documenting how to tackle this project. Amazing what the Internet makes possible. Considering there are two televisions for every citizen in America, there are a lot of potential aquariums out there, which can potentially save a lot of space in our nation's landfills. This is a great example of reuse and recycling, so have at it do-it-yourselfers!
Sad to see the end of winter? Sorry to see your skis packed away for the season? Well, one company's innovative design lets you use them year-round. Green Mountain Ski Furniture
recycles old skis and snowboards into "usable art" such as Adirondack ski chairs, ski benches and outdoor furniture. They'll even custom-design and build products with your own old gear. Not only is the furniture attractive and practical, but the company's helping the environment. They pick up any old equipment for free in Vermont, where they are located, and encourage people from outside the state to mail anything to them to donate.
