A miter box is a wonderfully simple, affordable tool that allows any DIYer to make accurate crosscuts in wood. Since these tools are hand-powered, they are quiet, and they’re light enough to be easily moved to any project location. An added benefit, the miter box minimizes and neatly contains sawdust, making it a viable sawing solution for those living in small apartments.
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A power drill does more than just drill holes. With different attachments, it also drives screws, turns a sander, or even mixes paint. Here are a few tips to help you choose a model with convenient new features.
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Last year, I was dying to have some deck rail planters to grow spinach and lettuce in, but I couldn’t find any that were the right size (or that I liked well enough for the price).
So this year, I decided to build my own. For about $45 a piece in materials, I succeeded in making a trio of beautiful, 48-inch planters in cedar. You could make them less expensively in pressure-treated lumber.
Being that stock lumber, a butt joint design, and only basic carpentry skills were involved, I would rate this as an attainable project for a beginner who has some experience with power tools.
I can barely think of a home improvement job that doesn’t require a tape measure! Whether you’re framing a new room or just hanging a few pictures, a tape measure is a must.
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A plumb bob is an amazingly simple tool, basically just a pointed weight on a string. But whether you’re putting up a new wall, hanging a door, or wallpapering a room, this little tool can be a mighty big help.
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Photo: Chris Gardner
In the spring, summer, and fall at our house, we’re pretty active cyclists—for recreation, exercise, and transportation.
As any cyclist knows, storing bikes can be an issue. Rather than allow our bikes to occupy valuable floor space, I installed ceiling hooks on which we can hang our trusty two-wheelers.
The hooks proved to be a good solution to our storage problem, but installing the hooks posed a problem of its own. When drilling holes through wallboard and joists, how would I avoid getting totally covered in plaster dust and wood shavings?
I came up with this easy, inexpensive trick…
There are many different types of screws, and each kind has its own job to do. Before you make the first turn of the screw, figure out the right one for your job.
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Not every homeowner needs a workshop full of professional tools, but there are a few basics you should have if you plan to do routine maintenance and some do-it-yourself projects.
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Are your home improvement plans hidden in piles of folders overflowing with clips, notes, and paint chips? You can save time, corral your ideas, and bring your current “organizational system” into the 21st century with the right app. We’ve put together three favorites to help you streamline planning and make your 2013 home improvement projects a breeze.
1. HB Color
HB Color
Is one paint company’s Foggy Wisteria the same as another’s Lavender Mist? House Beautiful cuts through color confusion with a smart palette of functions: zero in on your intuitive preferences with a quiz, peruse color combinations recommended by decorators and House Beautiful editors, or fish from the “Color River” to find the moods, shades, and tints that fit your vision.
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Drill bits are designed to do one thing: make holes in stuff.
That is, except when they are intended to drive hardware, or sand wood, or, well… it’s not as simple as buying a set from the hardware store and havin’ at it.
So here is my breakdown on common bit types, with advice on how to choose the right drill bit for the task you’re planning to tackle.
(From left) Brad-point bit, twist bit, countersink bit, Forstner bit. Photo: CGardner
