WOODWORKING

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The Great Debate: Plywood vs. Solid Wood Kitchen Cabinets
When installing new kitchen cabinets, it’s important to consider what they're made of. Some custom cabinets may be ma...
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Hands-On Tool Review: Did the DeWalt Narrow Crown Stapler Nail It?
We own a narrow crown stapler that gets a lot of use in our small woodworking and trim projects. This type of stapler...
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IKEA Mirrors and ZLINE Gas Ranges: 9 Recalls You Need to Know from November 2023
It’s important to ensure that the products we use in our homes are safe, and staying informed about recent product re...
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How to Build a Classic Adirondack Chair
Few pieces of furniture are as recognizable as the Adirondack chair. Its low center of gravity enhances stability, wh...
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6 Wood Substitutes and When to Use Them
Wood might be the most common choice for many home projects, but it’s far from the only option available to DIYers lo...
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How to Build a Workbench That Fits Just About Anywhere
Stationary and sturdy by day, mobile and minimal by night, our workbench is designed to assist DIYers with a wide var...
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15 Coffee Table Plans for Building Your Own Living Room Furniture
Next to the couch, a coffee table is arguably a crucial piece of furniture in a living room. It's practical, function...
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10 Things Preservationists Wish You Knew About Your Old Home
If the walls in your old home could talk, they would have stories to tell. As generations have come and gone, your ol...
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Why I Prefer the TruArt Stage 1 Pyrography Pen Over the Walnut Hollow Versa-Tool
Getting started with pyrography—the art of decorating wood or other surfaces with heated tools or a fine flame—can be...
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10 Dog House Plans You Can DIY for Your Furry Best Friend
A dog house is more than just an outdoor shelter to protect your four-legged family member from the elements. It’s al...
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17 Planter Box Plans You Can DIY This Weekend
If you want to dress up your porch, deck, or garden with some greenery, consider taking a DIY approach with outdoor p...
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My Current Favorite Tool: Bostitch BTFP72156 Smart Point Finish Nailer
When I planned to finish the interior of my covered deck with tongue and groove pine, I needed a way to fasten the bo...
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The Best Hybrid Table Saws of 2023
Contractor table saws are ideal for rough carpentry jobs, but the blades and fences typically aren’t precise enough t...
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The Best Sanders for Hardwood Floors of 2023
It’s possible to use just about any sander for hardwood floors, but some can involve a long, laborious, and uncomfort...
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Ocoopa H01 PD Pro: Is It Worth It? We Tested it to Find Out!
Being outdoors in frigid weather can be much more comfortable with a rechargeable hand warmer, and few companies are ...
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Can You Get the Perfect Finish With the Ryobi Cordless Sander? An Honest Review After Testing
Perhaps the least-liked phase of a woodworking project is sanding, but today's power sanders make quick work of what ...
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Is Yost the Best Choice for a Woodworking Vise?
All-purpose bench vises—the heavy cast-iron sort your grandfather might have had mounted on a bench in his garage—are...
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12 Birdhouse Plans for Building Homes for Your Feathered Friends
Birdhouses provide shelter for certain types of cavity-nesting birds, offering up a safe space for them to rest. Whil...
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DeWalt Cordless Brad Nailer Tested & Reviewed: How Good Is the Popular Trim Tool?
DeWalt power tools are mainstays for both pros and DIYers, and the brand name has become synonymous with high quality...
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Bostich Brad Nailer Tested & Reviewed: See How The Smart Point Performed
If you associate the name "Bostitch" with office and home staplers, you're not alone. But the company also manufactur...
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We Tested the 36-Volt Makita Cordless Circular Saw: Did It Make the Cut?
Circular saws are among the last handheld power tools to go cordless, likely because they require immense power to su...
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Kreg Pocket Hole Jig 320 Review: Does it Work?
Pocket hole jigs make wood joinery faster and easier than traditional methods. Cabinetmakers pioneered the use of the...
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Bosch StarlockPlus Oscillating Tool Review: Is it Worth it?
Oscillating tools, sometimes called multi-tools (because they accomplish a variety of tasks), are relatively new to t...
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Is DeWalt’s Cordless 20V MAX the Best Compact Router?
DeWalt has long been a top contender in the power tool industry, producing high-quality tools for pros and DIYers, so...
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Solved! How Long Does Polyurethane Take to Dry?
Q: I am reviving an old oak floor, and polyurethane seems like an attractive, hard-wearing finish. However, I’m findi...
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The Best Table Saw Fences of 2023
One of the key accessories for a table saw is a sturdy fence. It is almost impossible to cut boards and sheet materia...
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The Best Railing Planters
An easy way to add greenery to an outdoor space is with a railing planter. They can house colorful flowers, herbs, or...
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10 Woodturning Tools Every Beginner Needs
Woodturning on a lathe is one of the most rewarding woodworking skills. Using a wood lathe requires significant patie...
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20 Woodturning Projects for Beginners
Few tools strike as much intimidation into the hearts of beginner and advanced woodworkers alike as the common lathe....
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How to Use a Lathe for Woodturning
As far as woodworking projects go, few are as satisfying as those turned on a lathe. But what is a lathe? A lathe is ...
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How to Turn Wood Accessories for Your Home
Woodturning is a fascinating hobby and not quite like any other kind of woodworking. Even though it involves a machin...
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The Best Belt Sanders
A belt sander is a relatively common power tool that is used to remove layers of wood, metal, plastic, or other targe...
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Fractal Wood Burning: What You Need to Know About TikTok's Most Dangerous DIY Trend
Recently, there’s been increased online interest in fractal wood burning, a process that uses electricity to burn pat...
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15 Outdoor Bench Plans You Can Build This Weekend
Whether you’re an experienced woodworker or just looking for the right weekend project to get your feet wet, building...
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The Best Cabinet Table Saws of 2023
Cabinet table saws, often just called cabinet saws, are the largest of the table saws, with huge power and tremendous...
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The Best Jointer Planer Combos
Buying rough lumber can save a lot of money and offers the opportunity to find and use interesting varieties. However...
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The Best Online Woodworking Classes
Woodworking is a great hobby that can even lead to a professional skill in making decorative and useful wooden object...
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The Best DeWalt Table Saws of 2023
Table saws are a versatile staple of DIY enthusiasts, home woodworkers, and jobsite contractors, capable of accuratel...
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The Best Pin Nailers for Woodworking
There are certain situations in finish carpentry and woodworking where a big finish or brad nail just won’t do. These...
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Plunge Router vs. Fixed-Base Router: What's the Difference?
DIYers and woodworkers (usually) love their tools. But, when two tools—like a plunge router and fixed-base router—app...
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The Best Electric Hand Planers
Despite painstakingly perfect measurements and perfect cuts, there are times when wood just doesn’t cooperate. Whethe...
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Taking Down a Tree in Your Yard? Here Are 12 Things You Can Do With the Wood
Tree work can get messy. Whether you’re handling tree removal yourself or paying a tree service to tackle the job, th...
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The Best DeWalt Miter Saws of 2023
Miter saws are, by far, the most popular cutting tool for residential jobsite use, and they’re also a versatile tool ...
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Jointer vs. Planer: What’s the Difference Between These Big-Ticket Woodworking Tools?
Craftspeople tackling fine woodworking projects need their stock to be as flat, square, and consistent as possible. T...
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The Best Table Saws for Beginners
When shopping for table saws for beginners, the primary focus must be safety. In many cases, this means not settling ...
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A Carpenter’s Dream Workshop: 10 Things You Need If You Have the Funds—and the Space
Many veteran and would-be carpenters dream of setting up the ideal space for their crafts. They may pine for a dedica...
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Wood Putty vs. Wood Filler: What's the Difference?
Whether repairing fine wooden furniture or filling nail holes in the wall, it’s likely that either wood putty or wood...
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12 Gardening and DIY Camps and Workshops for Adults
Taking up a new hobby like gardening or woodworking ought to be an exciting challenge, but it can be tough to know wh...
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The Best Woodworking Tools
Trying to make a list of the best woodworking tools is something of a challenge. Whether the tools are for general-pu...
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14 Potting Bench Plans for Building an Outdoor Garden Prep Space
A potting bench provides a spacious work area to simplify gardening tasks such as repotting plants or transplanting s...
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Jigsaw vs. Reciprocating Saw: Which Cutting Tool is Best for Your Project?
Reciprocating saws and jigsaws are both popular tools capable of a multitude of DIY and professional tasks. While bot...
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The Best Portable Table Saws Tested and Reviewed in 2023
Table saws are a baseline necessity in many homes and professional workshops. Portable models are the go-to tool for ...
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The Best Cheap Tools
Cheap tools are often the ones consumers overlook in favor of the sought-after high-end brands DIYers and pros alike ...
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The Best Circular Saw Blades
Circular saws typically include a standard blade for general-purpose work. Although these blades work well to crosscu...
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The Best Miter Saw Blades for Fine Cuts
Most saws are typically sold with a budget blade, regardless of the saw type. Even the best miter saw includes a basi...
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The Best Dust Collectors to Keep Workspaces Tidy
Wood and metalworking projects can range from entertaining hobbies to necessary professions, like carpentry and auto ...
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The Best Tools
Building an extensive collection of tools takes time. Even DIYers with a few years and plenty of projects under their...
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Solved! How Long Does Wood Glue Take to Dry?
Q: I have some old wooden furniture that I’d like to restore. I was going to repair the damage with wood glue because...
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The Best Pocket Knife Brands for Everyday Carry
Pocket knives are everywhere. They have become everyday essentials for many, useful for cutting twine, whittling wood...
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The Best Glues for MDF Projects Around the House
If you’re tackling woodworking projects using medium-density fiberboard (MDF), it doesn’t take long to realize the di...
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The Best Dowel Jigs for Your Workshop, Tested and Reviewed
When it comes to wood joinery, creating dowel joints is one of the easiest, most accessible options for DIYers to sta...
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The Best Cordless Reciprocating Saws Tested in 2023
Reciprocating saws—power tools with long, thin blades that employ a back-and-forth motion to rip through material—hav...
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The Best Glue for Particle Board Projects
Although particle board can be one of the more affordable materials to use for making furniture and even countertops,...
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The Best Sanders for Furniture in 2023
Furniture projects and repairs can be challenging. But, using abrasive sandpaper and rapid oscillation, sanders can g...
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The Best Cordless Brad Nailers Tested in 2023
For virtually every construction or craft project, including heavy-duty roofing and light upholstery work, there's a ...
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The Best Wood Routers for Beginners of 2023
A wood router is an indispensable tool both in the workshop and on the job site. The tools are powerful yet easy to m...
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The Best Table Saw Accessories for Your Workshop
While the design might seem simple, table saws are incredibly customizable. Pros and hobbyists can choose from an arr...
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The Best Compact Circular Saws Tested in 2023
The best compact circular saws have balance, output, and ergonomics that match the work being performed, whether it's...
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The Best Router Tables
While a handheld router allows you to do many things without other tools, it does have limitations. Routers are heavy...
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The Best Bench Sanders of 2023
Bench sanders are designed to sand down large surfaces quickly and easily, so you can finish a woodworking project fa...
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The Best Stainable Wood Fillers
Over time, every home’s furniture, walls, and baseboards get nicks and cracks. But, wood fillers help hide the appear...
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13 DIY Squirrel Feeder Ideas for Your Yard
Move over, birds! These feeders are for your bushy-tailed backyard friends.
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The Best Woodworking Books for Honing Your Craft
If you are interested in acquiring a new hands-on skill, you’d be hard-pressed to find something better than learning...
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The Best Wood Routers Tested for DIYers and Hobbyists
Seasoned DIYers and hobbyists know the difference a wood router can make on the quality of a woodworking project. Fro...
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The Best Biscuit Joiners of 2023
As a woodworker or DIYer, there are certain essential tools that, once the DIYer discovers them, help unlock their re...
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The Best Benchtop Jointers of 2023
Instead of throwing warped or uneven wood into the scrap bin, DIYers could benefit from equipping their workshop with...
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The Best Pocket Knives, Tested and Reviewed
Thanks to its compact folding design, a pocket knife allows the blade to be stored in the handle, and the tool itself...
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The Best Woodworking Clamps for Your Projects
Between gluing materials, building picture frames, assembling cabinetry, or doing other shop activities, having the r...
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The Best Dovetail Jigs for Woodworking
For DIYers looking to increase their craftsmanship during woodworking projects, dovetail jigs could be the answer. Th...
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The Best Band Saws of 2023
A sturdy band saw makes rip cuts like a table saw, crosscuts like a miter saw, and reduces the thickness of a board l...
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The Best Hand Planes Tested in 2023
Whether shaving down a wood door that’s sticking or smoothing the surface of a wavy board, no tool works quite as wel...
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The Best Contour Gauges of 2023
Whether you’re installing flooring, siding, tile, or some other material, you may eventually run into a door frame, s...
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The Best Jointers for DIYers and Pros
A jointer is a woodworking machine that smooths and flattens the face and edge of stock lumber to make it perfectly s...
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We Tested the 9 Best Wood-Burning Tools
If you’re looking to express yourself creatively in a new way—to add an extra touch to your projects or perhaps to st...
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The Best Hand Saws Tested in 2023
Walk the aisles of a home improvement store and it seems that every project requires power tools—compound miter saws,...
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The Best Benchtop Planers for DIY and Professional Projects, Tested
Benchtop planers—box-shaped power tools that reduce board thickness while smoothing the surface—top many a woodcrafte...
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The Best Bench Vises Tested in 2023
You only have two hands—which can be a challenge with certain projects, such as when you still need to hold an item a...
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The Best Cordless Circular Saws
Advancements in battery technology have paved the way for a whole new crop of powerful cordless circular saws, some o...
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The Best Table Saw Blades of 2023
While a good table saw makes large jobs easier and more accurate when it comes to cutting wood, a good blade is a thi...
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The Best Pocket-Hole Jigs for Woodworking
More than just challenging, wood joinery requires a degree of expertise that practically rises to the level of art fo...
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The Best Wood Chisels Tested in 2023
Metal hand tools with either a straight or beveled edge, chisels have been around for thousands of years, standing th...
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The Best Whittling Knives for Your Woodworking Projects
Whittling is similar to wood carving in that they both form wood into a new, creative shape. However, wood carving us...
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The Best Carpenter Pencils for Your Projects
A carpenter pencil may just look like an odd-shaped regular pencil, but it’s so much more than that. These precision ...
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The Best Benchtop Drill Presses Tested in 2023
When a DIY project requires some precision drill work, only the best benchtop drill press will do. These handy tools ...
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The Best Router Bits for Your Woodworking Needs
A router is a powered cutting tool that uses different bits to cut various grooves, angles, and shapes into wood. The...
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The Best Plunge Routers Tested in 2023
Whether it’s rounding off the edge of a shelf board or creating a mortise in the center of a piece of hardwood, woodw...
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The Best Spring Clamps for DIY Projects
Spring clamps are a great solution for when you need a "helping hand" on a woodworking or home improvement project. T...
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The Best Hacksaws, Tested and Reviewed
The hacksaw is a time-tested hand tool for cutting through metal materials such as pipes, studs, and rebar. The best ...
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The Best Miter Box Sets for DIYers
Those who prefer making quick cuts with a power saw might overlook miter boxes, but these tools still hold a place in...
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The Best Scroll Saws for the Workshop, Tested
If you need to make precise cuts for projects like jewelry boxes, wood signs, or birdhouses, a scroll saw is probably...
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The Best Workbenches for DIY Projects
Almost any home DIY project is made easier by having a clean, flat surface to work on. If this surface sits at the pe...
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The Best Palm Sanders Tested in 2023
The finishing touches on a woodworking project can transform decent work into stunning craftsmanship. Using just the ...
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The Best Circular Saws for the Workshop
The words "versatile" and "tool" are combined so often these days that it's hard to tell if it's the truth or just a ...
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The Best Table Saws Tested in 2023
Table saws top the wish lists of both DIYers and seasoned woodworkers. After researching more than 25 popular models,...
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The Best Miter Saws of 2023, Tested and Reviewed
Today's miter saws are a significant improvement over the manual miter boxes of the 1960s, having evolved into powerf...
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How To: Use a Tape Measure
You’ve no doubt heard the carpentry proverb “Measure twice, cut once” and may even have made it a mantra for your own...
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The 10 Best Screwdriver Sets of 2023, Tested and Reviewed
Basic as they are, screwdrivers are not a one-size-fits-all tool, nor does one type of screwdriver fit all situations...
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The Best Wood Fillers for DIY Fixes to Wooden Surfaces, Tested
Cracks, divots, holes, or rot can crop up on wooden surfaces due to ordinary wear and tear and accidents, or during D...
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The Best Random Orbital Sanders Tested in 2023
One of the first rules of woodworking is to sand in the direction of the wood grain to avoid creating cross-grain mar...
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8 Types of Nail Guns You Should Know—and How to Use Them
Whether you’re looking to add shiplap, install trim, or tackle one of the hundreds of other carpentry projects, a nai...
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The Best Drill Bits Tested in 2023
When one is assembling a tool kit for home improvement, maintenance, and construction projects, one of the first item...
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The Best Axes Tested in 2023
Enjoying the warmth of a wood-burning fireplace is priceless to many, but buying firewood can be expensive. A cord, w...
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The Best Wood Glues Tested in 2023
With its unique grain patterns and natural tones, thick and thin wood earns praise for being a beautiful building mat...
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How to Use Wood Filler to Repair Furniture, Flooring, and More
Badly scratched hardwood flooring, rotted window frames, and chipped furniture are common problems that can be time-c...
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What's the Difference? Miter Saw vs. Table Saw
Power saws have changed the woodworking industry, giving DIYers the muscle they need to create large projects in a sh...
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11 Things to Know Before Visiting the Lumber Yard
Choosing the right wood for a home improvement project can be tricky for experienced woodworkers and novice DIYers alike. Luckily, knowing a few key lumber facts ...
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Solved! When, Why, and How to Use Pilot Holes Correctly
Q: I know it’s a good idea to pre-drill before nailing or screwing two pieces of wood together, but I can’t seem to g...
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15 Surprisingly Simple Woodworking Projects for Beginners
Woodworking doesn’t have to be daunting! Most of these fun, novice-friendly projects use scrap lumber and require just basic tools and some simple instructions. T...
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Makeover an Ordinary Outdoor Space with a Wall-Mounted Trellis
It's not news: You don’t need to have a huge backyard to enjoy greenery. The key is to embrace your vertical space, a...
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The Perfect DIY Plant Stand for Any Empty Corner
‘Tis the season to celebrate your green thumb! If you enjoy afternoons tending colorful blooms, then you understand h...
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How To: Frame a Bathroom Mirror
The bathroom mirror is essential, but "essential" doesn't have to be synonymous with "boring. " Is yours plain and wi...
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DIY Lite: A Narrow Nightstand that Fits into Any Bedroom Layout
Whether you can't wind down without a book or you simply like to check your email on your phone before falling asleep...
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This DIY Christmas Tree Stand Makes Your Fake Fir Look Real (and Taller!)
You've adorned every limb with baubles, tinsel, and ribbon, but what's a fully decorated tree if its base remains bar...
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DIY Lite: Store Winter Footwear on an Indoor Boot Rack
Keeping an organized home is no small task. Entryway clutter alone can be particularly overwhelming, as the space by ...
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7 Strong Types of Wood Joints Worth Knowing
Wood joinery, as the term implies, refers to joining pieces of timber or lumber to create other structures. Crafting ...
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DIY Lite: A Space-Saving Solution for Any Indoor Garden
While houseplants look simply lovely on a window ledge, the space available there can be fairly limiting—you might fi...
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25 Types of Screwdrivers and How to Use Them
Ask any seasoned carpenter or DIYer what tools take up the most room in their toolbox, and the answer is probably “sc...
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7 Types of Saws Every DIYer Should Get to Know
Whether you want to build a rustic bench, install trim molding, or plumb a new sink, odds are that you’ll need to cut...
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How To: Use a Jigsaw
Whether doing fine woodworking or tackling a kitchen or bathroom remodel, chances are you’ll need to create some curv...
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9 Ways to DIY a Dresser on a Dime
Dressers do a lot more than just hold our T-shirts and workout pants—they can also add character to the bedroom. If you just can’t find what you’re looking for in...
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How To: Build a Kitchen Island
Sometimes, the kitchen is too small to prep a multi-course meal for friends or family. If only you had 12 square inch...
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Genius! The DIY Dog Feeder that Doubles as Storage
Pet parents know that there isn't ever a great place to store bulky bags of dry kibble. Closets are typically already...
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DIY Lite: This Stunning Room Divider Looks Better than Real Walls
No matter whether you live in a large house with an open-concept floor plan or a small condo wherein your living room...
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How to Sharpen a Chainsaw: 7 Safe Steps to Keeping Your Tool in Good Working Order
Like any other tool in your arsenal, a chainsaw must be properly and consistently maintained in order to perform effe...
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Editors' Picks: 8 Favorite Etsy Stores for One-of-a-Kind Furniture
Shopping for furniture can be a stressful experience. While some people can find the perfect "forever" piece in a furniture showroom, those with more eclectic tas...
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5 Ways to Weather Wood
Many homeowners strive for the lived-in look—the shabby chic, vintage-eclectic vibe touted by interior designers and ...
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DIY Lite: Build a Backyard Hammock Stand from Scratch
Wish that you had a relaxing moment in a camping hammock in your own backyard, but have nowhere to hang it? Rather th...
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DIY Lite: The Easy Way to Build Better Backyard Privacy
Are your neighbors so close that it feels like you practically share a backyard? There's no need to fence off your pr...
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Weekend Projects: 5 Designs for a DIY Door
At its core, a door's construction is mostly the same; learn to build one, and you can fashion as many as your home h...
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How To: Custom-Build The Ultimate Outdoor Kitchen
Whether you're accustomed to hosting the big barbecue or simply enjoy the occasional family dinner from the grill, yo...
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DIY Lite: Double Bathroom Storage with Easy-Build Box Shelves
The bathroom can be a nightmare to organize, with all of its towels, soap bottles, grooming supplies, and other toile...
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DIY Lite: A Beginner's Guide to Building a Wooden Planter Box
Some lucky homeowners with enough property for a large plot of land to be dedicated garden space; for the rest of us,...
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21 Clever Little Things to Do with Scrap Wood
Don't toss all that scrap wood left over from your last DIY adventure! Instead, put it to good use building one of these fun and functional projects for your home.
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Are You Buying the Right Amount of Lumber?
Once you’ve managed to secure the necessary approvals for your renovation or construction project, it's time for the ...
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How to Cut Plexiglass
Plexiglass, the clear acrylic material that revolutionized modern architecture and design, was developed in the 1930s...
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DIY Lite: How to Build a Shadow Box Display
Most of us already have the makings of a collection sitting out on a shelf or dresser, right under our noses. Transfo...
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Weekend Projects: 5 Designs for a DIY Daybed
Among the everyday struggles of finding storage and squeezing in more workspace, entertaining—and housing—guests pose...
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Is Varnish or Polyurethane the Right Finish for You?
A coat of durable wood finish on your hardwood floors, fine furniture, and outdoor decking can mean the difference be...
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DIY Lite: Craft a Homemade Cutting Board
Family and food go hand in hand this time of year, and the kitchen is generally bustling with all of the action. If y...
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How To: Make a Tabletop with 2x4s
This DIY has a bit of a backstory: In my basement workshop—as a byproduct of about a half dozen previous projects—I'd...
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8 Things You Can Make with 2x4s
The first thing you need to know about 2x4s: They don’t actually measure two by four! These boards, which you can find in any lumberyard or home improvement store...
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10 Backyard Wood Projects for Total Beginners
It’s amazingly gratifying to roll up your sleeves and build a piece of wooden furniture. Not only does doing it yourself save you money, it forges an emotional at...
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MDF 101
Medium-density fiberboard—most often known by its initials, MDF—rivals the affordability and versatility of plywood a...
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12 Simple Woodworking Projects for Christmas
You've trimmed the tree, graced your door with an evergreen wreath, and decked the halls with boughs of holly—it's hard not to feel a little woodsy this time of y...
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Genius! DIY Radiator Cover
If your heat comes from radiators, you know the predicament: In the winter, you're glad to have the heat. But no matt...
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How To: Make a Picture Frame
What is art? Critics and philosophers are free to debate the question endlessly, but we think it's pretty simple: If ...
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Get a Grip: 8 Clamps to Help You Handle Any Project
Clamps are immensely helpful (even essential) in performing cer­tain tasks. But, which clamp—among the various hand-screw, bar, spring, strap, pipe and C-clamp—is...
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Weekend Projects: 5 Classic Wood Games You Can Make Yourself
If you love to use tools and you love to play games, then you're not alone: Scores of handymen and women have used wo...
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The 10 Best Woods for Woodworking (According to a Pro)
Woodworking pro, Spike Carlsen, shares his pick for the top ten best woodworking woods, along with the characteristics, best uses and cost for each.
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How to Build Scaffolding (and When It's a Better Idea Than Using a Ladder)
Painting a home’s exterior, installing new siding, and putting up new gutters are just a few of the projects that req...
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How To: Make a Mortise and Tenon Joint
Mortise and tenon joints are the preferred style of joint for furniture and cabinetwork. It's strong, durable, and li...
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Wood Joints
The language of the joiner is filled with words that we know well from ordinary usage but here have new and distinct ...
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Operating a Drill Press
The controls vary from one drill press to the next, but there are a number of ele­ments that remain largely the same....
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How To: Use a Portable Power Planer
Power planers are to jack planes as portable circular saws are to handsaws. Both the planer and the circular saw are ...
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How To: Use a Hand Plane
Very few workshop tasks can be as satisfying as putting a wood plane through its paces. There you are, just you and, ...
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Woodworking Vise Guide
A woodworking vise, according to its dictionary definition, consists of two jaws for holding work and a mechanism, us...
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Planning Your Woodworking Shop
Consider some of these issues as you're planning your woodworking shop. Doorways. Standard household doors are often ...
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Lumber Grades and Numbers
Lumber grading is tricky and often counterintuitive. The grading system for white pine alone consists of about ten le...
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How To: Clamp a Glue Joint
A properly glued wood joint is very strong, but one that is glued improperly is likely to fracture given a minimum of...
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Quick Tip: Working with Wood Glues
Glues really used to be made from old horses (the hoofs, skins, bones, and other parts, when boiled, produce a protei...
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How To: Use a Hammer
At first, I felt a bit foolish explaining how to use a hammer. Most of us have seen children banging away with toy ma...
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How To: Cut Straight Lines with a Circular Saw
Despite its name, the portable circular saw (or any circular saw, for that matter) cuts only straight lines. The name...
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Choosing Essential Tools for Woodworking
Whether starting a workshop from scratch or enhancing an existing one, few woodworkers will come up with the same wor...
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16 Workbench Plans Perfect for Big or Small Home Shops
It’s hard to say that a workshop is actually a workshop if there isn’t at least a small workbench somewhere within th...
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How To: Make a Mitered Corner
A mitered corner is formed by joining two pieces of wood, each cut to a 45° angle. One of the easier joints to cut, a...
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How to Use a Miter Box
A miter box is a simple, affordable tool that allows a DIYer to make accurate cuts in wood. Since this wood angle cut...
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How To: Make a Deck Rail Planter
Last year, I was dying to have some deck rail planters to grow spinach and lettuce in, but I couldn’t find any that w...
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Bob Vila Radio: DIY Dolly
The next time you need to move something big and heavy in the workshop or around the house, save your back and build ...
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How To: Drill Straight 90° Holes (Without a Drill Press)
Except in special cases—when you intentionally choose a specific angle or bias—it's important to keep all drill holes...
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How To: Choose the Right Screw for the Right Job
Back in the day there were just two options, slotted or Phillips. You picked one, picked a length, and were good to g...
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7 Essential Measuring Tools for Any Job
Besides "righty tighty, lefty loosey," there's one DIY phrase that nearly anyone can recite: Measure twice, cut once....
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10 Ways to Use Your Cordless Drill/Driver
Some may love their wet saws for cutting tiles, while others couldn't bear to part with their trim router or thicknes...
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How To: Make a Window Box
A window box can add enormous curb appeal to a house and provide a garden opportunity for even city dwellers. And, th...
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Top Tips for Building a Better DIY Birdhouse
A DIY birdhouse can be as simple or as detailed as you like—from a basic box shape built with butt-joints and a 45-de...
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How To: Clean Your Toolbox and Workshop
While spring is generally considered the month for cleaning windows, airing out the house, reorganizing the cupboards...
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How To: Get Clean, Chip-Free Cuts in Melamine and Veneer
Melamine-coated particleboard is a great material for storage, basement, garage, home office, and kid's room projects...
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How to Use a Saw the Right Way
Every time you use a power saw, you put your very own flesh and blood at risk. I've worked with more contractors than...
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5 Ways to Get Perfect, Clean Cuts in Plywood
Plywood sheet goods are an essential in any home improvement project involving wood. But due to their layered structu...
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Filing Techniques
The first time I saw my father cut a piece of stock with a handsaw, he made it look easy. When I tried it, I discover...
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Proper Sanding Techniques
While there are many different products you can use to sand (a palm sander, a block, or sand­ing with paper in hand),...
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Building a Redwood Deck and a Redwood-and-Cedar Fence
Bob helps carpenter Bob Ryley build a redwood deck. Carpenter Danny Ruffini installs a custom-made redwood-and-cedar fence on the perimeter.
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Making an Armoire into an Entertainment Center
Bob works with carpenter Bob Ryley to construct an insert for an antique cherry armoire to house his bedroom TV and video collection.
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Reviewing the Front Porch, and Installing Interior Columns and a Vanity
Bob reviews the Victorian design elements of his front-corner porch and the interior columns that echo the exterior ones, and then watches the turn-of-the-century...
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Creating a Cornice Molding for the Dining Room
Bob helps carpenter Bob Ryley create an elaborate five-piece cornice molding in the dining room.
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Applying a Veneer Coat of Plaster over Blueboard
Bob interviews Carlos Londono, a plastering contractor, who demonstrates how to apply a veneer coat of plaster over blue board.
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Cherry Cabinet Installation
Gam Danziger from Craftline Cabinets reviews the assembly of the contemporary Cherry kitchen cabinets being installed in the penthouse apartment.
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Installing a Mahogany Windowsill
Bob puts in a Mahogany windowsill that's been precut with a cleat and bevel to make the installation easier. He also helps install Poplar floor molding and observ...
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Building Planter Boxes
Bob Ryley is in the garage workshop building a planter box for the sunroom.
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Picture Framing
Interior designer Leslie Curtis shows off another of her decorating ideas in the dining room.
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Building the Foyer Staircase
Bob visits with carpenter Mark Fortunati, who is building a traditional-looking staircase in the foyer.
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Drywall vs. Blueboard Explained
In the barn of the Victorian restoration project house, Bob talks with a rep from US Gypsum about the new technology that makes blue boards stronger and lighter t...
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Wall Plastering
Plastering contractor John Hirrell shows Bob several tricks of the trade.
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Tiling the Shower
Bob touches base with Eddie Zywusko, the mason and tilesetter, working in the loft apartment's L-shaped shower.
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Building Cabinets
Bob visits Todd Allen's cabinet shop, where he helps to mill and assemble the cabinets for the loft conversion project.
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Porch Railing and Screen Door Installation
Carpenter Bob Ryley helps install a new porch railing and new screen doors. An underground sprinkler system is also installed.
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Constructing Kitchen Cabinets and Shelves
Bob and contractor Ed Weller check out the open pantry shelves made of Surell.
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Wall Demolition to Create a Doorway
Bob and carpenter Bob Ryley demolish a wall on the second floor in order to connect the framed-in addition to the existing house.
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Installing Baseboards and Making Moldings
Bob meets with carpenter Bob Ryley to install baseboard, then visits Paul Morse's workshop to see how specialty moldings are milled.
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Building a Bookcase
Bob and carpenter Bob Ryley meet in the workshop to build a set of bookcases for the home. Ryley demonstrates the various cuts and joining methods used to make th...
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Decorative Woodwork Restoration
Bob assists Patty Hettich in stripping paint from decorative woodwork, then making rubber molds to create new details in the Federal-style home.
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Discussing the Framing and Selecting a Garage Door
Bob and contractor Bob Ryley review the building plans and the progress made on the post-and-beam garage. Framing continues, and Bob discusses the various joints ...
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Cutting Joists Using 17th-Century Techniques
Bob heads to Plimouth Plantation in Plymouth, MA, where artisan-carpenter Pret Woodburn shows Bob how mortise-and-tenon joinery was cut back in the 17th- and 18th...
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Tour of the Completed 'Boat Barn'
Bob takes a close look at the boat storage part of the building (the 'boat barn'), highlighting interior features like the lighting and mechanical systems. Contra...
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Building a Medicine Cabinet
Bob helps contractor Bob Ryley hand-craft a medicine cabinet using a radial arm saw, Dado blade, router, screws, and carpenter's glue.
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Sweating a Joint in Copper Plumbing
The plumber Steve Bowton shows Bob how to sweat a joint in copper plumbing.
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Blueboard and Plaster
Bob joins plastering contractor Bob Fragakis, who will install blueboard, then apply a skim coat of plaster over it. Fragakis explains the tools and materials use...
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Creating the Built-in Cabinets
Bob meets with Ryley to discuss the site-built, built-in cabinets of birch plywood. Ryley demonstrates many of the cuts and jigs used in crafting the cabinets, an...
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Constructing a Custom-Recessed Bulkhead Door
Contractor Larry Landers builds a trapdoor to enable access to the old bulkhead from outside. Sheet lead flashing and an ice-and-water barrier are used to waterpr...
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Constructing a Carport, Bench, and Storage Structure
Bob reviews the construction of a carport, bench, and storage structure, situated adjacent to the Naples project house.
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Joining Copper Plumbing
Plumber Tom Higham demonstrates how to join copper plumbing for the bathroom lavatory.
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