Good sanding can make or break a woodworking project, so every do-it-yourselfer should have a power sander in the workshop.
Photo: zo-d.com
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Experts on all things home aren’t always confined to hammer and nail. Many have picked up another set of tools altogether—pencil and paper. Looking to spread knowledge beyond their own toolboxes, today’s voices of interior design, craft inspiration, and historic homes have made 2012 a banner year for the home improvement book. Just in time for the holidays, we’ve gathered a fresh new trio of favorite stocking stuffers:
The Things That Matter
Photo: Spiegel & Grau
In designer Nate Berkus‘s recently released The Things That Matter, we are reminded of how one’s personal experiences shape who they are and how they live. Berkus fills the book with intimate stories of his childhood, introduces us to people who influenced him and encouraged him along the way, and opens up about the remarkable experiences that have changed him forever. Readers get a personal glimpse into Berkus’s home as well as 12 others, from a sleek metal-and-glass high-rise in Chicago to a rustic cottage in the Hudson Valley. Each property proves a revealing portrait of its owners lives and of the inspiring choices that shaped them. More…
Young House Love
Photo: A Beautiful Mess
In 2006, armed with a can-do attitude and zero formal training, husband-and-wife duo John and Sherry Petersik embarked on an ambitious home improvement journey. Six years, two whole-house renovations, and one enormously successful blog later, the Petersiks decided to move their crafty ideas from the computer screen to the glossy pages of a beautiful book. Young House Love: 243 Ways to Paint, Craft, Update & Show Your Home Some Love is a fun and upbeat source of inspiration. With instructive images accompanying each easy-to-read project guide, renters and homeowners alike will find themselves seeing new possibilities for every forgotten corner at home. More…
Houses of the Presidents
Photo: Little, Brown
Anyone who has gone through a major remodel knows that estimates are likely to run a tad long. If it brings any comfort, even Presidents have had to endure the same misery: It took Thomas Jefferson 54 years to complete his beloved Monticello! In Houses of the Presidents: Childhood Homes, Family Dwellings, Private Escapes, and Grand Estates, you’ll find a wealth of additional information on the homes (birthplaces, residences, retreats) of the American Presidents—from George Washington’s Mount Vernon to Punachou Circle Apartments in Honolulu, where Barack Obama lived with his grandmother. Author Hugh Howard, co-author of several Bob Vila books, weaves an intimate portrait that combines architectural history with intimate family stories and political lore to shed light on the men who have occupied the nation’s highest office. Color photographs by Roger Straus III bring these homes and furnishings vividly to life. More…
For more holiday gift ideas, consider:
Bob Vila’s 2012 Gift Guide: For the DIY Mom
Bob Vila’s 2012 Gift Guide: For the DIY Dad
Bob Vila’s 2012 Gift Guide: For the Gardener
No workshop should be without levels in various lengths, but for lines longer than 3′ or 4′, traditional bubble levels don’t work well. Enter the laser level.
Photo: home.howstuffworks.com
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Listen to BOB VILA ON LASER LEVELS or read the text below:
If there’s a leftie on your gift list this season, they might appreciate a tool or two that’s meant for them.
Photo: earthcraft.co.uk
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H.B. Fuller Construction Products, maker of TEC-brand tile installation tools, and Lowe’s have created a shopping-list tool designed to make buying tile materials easier.
Lowe's Tile Product Selector Tool
The Lowe’s tool is detailed, which is good. But it pulls you through many pages, each with multiple drop-down menus. You’ll get the job done—you’ll find out which and what quantity of TEC’s products you might need—but the experience could be faster and more efficient.
In carpentry, the first key to a good joint is proper clamping. The clamp is responsible for pulling together the pieces to be glued, and for holding them tight and flush until the glue sets. No workshop should be without them.
Photo: tooldex.com
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As time-saving tools go, it’s hard to beat the pneumatic nailer; aka the nail gun. But before you run out to get one for the DIYer on your list, you need to know what kind.
Photo: airking.com
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You don’t have to undertake too many do-it-yourself woodworking projects to understand that a table saw is a must-have tool for any serious workshop. If you’ve got your eye on one this holiday season, here’s how to know which table saw is right for you.
Photo: tablesaws.us
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Tablets are designed to be functional as well as beautifull, so why not display your iPad as if it were an art work, or at least mount the device on your wall for hands-free use?
Mobile-device mounts for walls, dashboards, and appliances already exist, and they can be pretty darn convenient, as phones and tablets are able to control an increasing number of conditions, electronics, and appliances around the house.
Here are some products you should know about:
The PadTab
The PadTab by PadTab. This two-piece, clear plastic bracket fastener sells for $20. A strong adhesive holds the larger piece on the back of the tablet, while a smaller hook fixes the first piece to your wall. Reciprocal tabs interlock to hold the tablet horizontally or vertically. It’s possible to misalign the tabs, however, so be careful! This is a simple product to install and use, though many iPad owners would sooner glue a bracket to a puppy than to a tablet.
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Here’s a technique professional carpenters use to conceal screws in fine woodworking projects: use wooden plugs.
Photo: dowelmax.com
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Listen to BOB VILA ON DOWEL JOINERY, or read the text below:
