Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2013 i Family Handyman

editors@thefamilyhandyman.com Most 12-in. sliding miter saws will set you back $450 to $650. So when I saw this Chicago Electric model for $180, I wondered: What do you sacrifice for that unbelievably low price? The answer is: Surprisingly little. The Chicago bevels left or right 45 degrees; most of the expensive models tilt beyond 45 degrees. It crosscuts boards up to 12 in. wide; that’s an inch or two less than some models. The fence isn’t tall enough for wide crown molding, but I usually screw on a wood “auxiliary fence” for crown anyway. In terms of power and quality of cut, the Chicago’s performance is similar to that of other models I’ve used. Overall, the Chicago feels a little less beefy than expensive saws, so I suspect it will…

editors@thefamilyhandyman.com Your local home center probably carries at least a dozen kinds of lubricant. Ever wonder why so many? I did. So I interrogated the guys in white lab coats and learned this: A lube formulated for a specific job usually provides far better results and wear protection than a general-purpose product or a product designed for a different job. And a specialty product usually lasts much longer. So by using the right lube, you’ll lubricate less often, avoid frustrations, and save time and money. I’ll walk you through all the different specialty lubes and explain where to use each one. But don’t worry about memorizing it all: There’s a pullout chart on p. 33. Pin it up in your shop and you’ll be the neighborhood “go-to guy” for lube…

Mastering the tools of home improvement One of the best ways to pick up tool tips is to watch the pros. Guys who use their tools all day every day are constantly improvising, inventing and finding ways to make their tools do more. So here are a few tricks we’ve recently spotted on job sites. DIVIDE A BOARD When you want to cut a board into equal widths, you can do some tricky math—or do a simple trick. Let’s say you want four strips: Pick a number that’s easy to divide by four (12, for example) and measure that distance diagonally across the board. Then mark the board at 3-in. increments (3, 6 and 9 in.) and your marks will divide the board into equal widths. BOOST CROSSCUT CAPACITY If…

editors@thefamilyhandyman.com Every time you pick up your circular saw, you’re picking up 12 lbs. of gyrating metal with a blade spinning at 100 revolutions per second. Sure, it has knobs for controlling depth and angle—but it’s 100 percent up to you to accurately guide it where it needs to go. Over the years—as a carpenter, woodworker and do-it-yourselfer—I’ve pulled the trigger of a circular saw hundreds of thousands of times. Here are some of my favorite tips for cutting smoothly and accurately. Start with accurate marks To get an accurate cut, you have to start with an accurate mark. Stretch out your tape measure, place your pencil at the correct measurement and make two marks that form a “V,” with the tip of the “V” pointing at the exact measurement.…

editors@thefamilyhandyman.com Like a lot of old, set-in-our-ways carpenters, I thought the low-cost laser levels were a bit of a gimmick. Then I tried one of the self-leveling cross-line lasers on a recent basement remodeling project and was shocked at how much time it saved. They’re like a chalk line and 4-ft. level and plumb bob rolled into one. If you’re like me, whether you’re tiling a bathroom, remodeling a kitchen, or just hanging shelves or pictures, I’m sure you’ll love the speed and convenience of a laser level. It takes a while to appreciate just how versatile these tools are. But with a little practice, you’ll be reaching for one more and more often for all kinds of carpentry tasks. Here are a few tips to help you get started…

FROM OUR READERS greatgoofs@thefamilyhandyman.com Uncooperative mower My friend Ruth decided to buy a new riding lawn mower instead of repairing her old push mower. It would be easier to operate, she thought, and she could finish the job in half the time. Once the mower was delivered, she got right to work. But the blades kept stopping during mowing, so she figured she’d bought a lemon. The dealer sent out a repairman, who checked it out, gave it a spin and said everything was fine. Ruth hopped back on the mower and started mowing again. Same deal! The next day her son came by, and she told him the problem. It dawned on him that since his mother weighed only 90 lbs. dripping wet, every time she hit a bump…

When Yamaha jumped into the pressure washer game, it didn’t just slap its logo on someone else’s machine—the company did a little research and made real improvements. For starters, the solid brass fittings are located at the front. It’s a lot easier to pull the washer around when you’re not stepping on the hoses. The solidly built wand has an adjustable secondary handle to reduce fatigue, and the swivel tip works great for hard-to-reach areas. Instead of replacing a nozzle tip to adjust the spray pattern, the 5-in-1 Nozzle lets you simply dial in the spray pattern you want. The Yamaha engine and CAT Pump deliver 3,000 psi and 2.8 gpm, and the flat-free tires will guarantee you’ll always be ready to roll. But of all the bragworthy features, the…

editors@thefamilyhandyman.com Back when I was a beginning carpenter, trim nailers were expensive and rare. Then, about 20 years ago, prices came down and I decided to give them a try. As expected, they made nailing faster and a lot easier on my arm. But as I learned to use them, they also made my work faster, easier and better in lots of ways I didn’t expect. In the following pages, I’ll show you some of the tricks and benefits that make trim nailers an essential part of my daily work. Use a block to push baseboard When baseboard—or the floor—isn’t straight, I force the trim down with a 2x4 block. The block gives me a broad surface to push against and lets me apply a lot more pressure. This trick…

editors@thefamilyhandyman.com A simple jig for your table saw makes miters easy and perfect! Anybody can cut a 45-degree miter by using a miter saw. But how about cutting eight precise 45-degree miters to create a perfect picture frame? If you’ve ever tried it, you know that task can be ticklish, frustrating and difficult. One way to accomplish this seemingly impossible feat is to build a miter sled for your table saw. You can build this simple sled using nothing more than a half sheet of 3/4-in. plywood, particleboard or MDF, a few squirts of wood glue and a couple of full paint cans for glue-up weights. After you throw it together, you’ll be cutting perfectly matched miters for frames, furniture or trim in no time, without muss or fuss. WHAT…

FROM OUR READERS handyhints@thefamilyhandyman.com CRACKING THE CODE Sometimes at work sites, I have several corded tools out at once that I plug in and unplug several times during the project. It’s often difficult to tell which cord goes to which tool. To solve the problem, I color-coded each tool with electrical tape. I put several windings at the tool end and at the plug end. Now I can find the right plug with just a glance. If you run out of tape colors for all your different tools, you can combine two colors like you’d see on an old-fashioned barber’s pole. Landing lights My wife’s night vision isn’t what it used to be, so I came up with this nifty visual cue to help her back the car out of…

editors@thefamilyhandyman.com If you already own an air compressor but you’re just using it to fill the tires or to clean off your workbench, you’re missing out. You could be harnessing the value of compressed air and the huge selection of air-powered tools. We rounded up some cool specialty air tools and accessories that most DIYers have never seen. Of course, we also included the old standbys, like a really good impact wrench and ratchet. All the tools shown here will run on a midsize air compressor that’s rated for about 5 cfm at 90 psi. If your compressor has a 20-gallon tank, you’ll have more than enough air to complete most tasks without having to stop repeatedly for it to repressurize. We picked name-brand tools that are built for professionals.…

Ahandheld router is an amazingly versatile tool in its own right. But if you turn it upside down and mount it under a table, that same router is capable of a whole new set of tasks. I designed this router table to be solid, stable, easy to build and easy to use. The joinery is simplicity itself. Just butt joints and screws—no miters, no fuss. But don’t get me wrong. Simple doesn’t mean second-rate. This table will withstand years of hard use and offers most of the features found on high-end manufactured models. For tips on buying and using a router table, go to familyhandyman.com and search for “router table.” WHAT IT TAKES Time: One weekend Cost: $200 as shown Skill level: Intermediate Tools: Router and bits, drill, table saw,…

We review popular models and pick our favorites If you’re in the market for a new router, you’re in luck. Selection, prices, features—and the routers themselves—are better than ever. But having a wider selection and variety of features also makes choosing a router more complicated than it used to be. And that’s the reason for this article. In the following pages, we’ll focus on “midsize” routers in the 1-1/2 to 2-1/4 hp range. Routers of this size are the do-anything utility players in most shops, powerful enough to spin the biggest bits but small enough for comfortable handling. It’s nice to have a bigger router mounted in a router table and a smaller “trim” router for light-duty work, but every woodworker needs the versatility of a midsize model. And if…

editors@thefamilyhandyman.com 10 tips for smoother, cleaner, more accurate cuts A jigsaw is one of those DIY necessities. For beginners, it’s less intimidating than a circular saw and also very versatile—lots of basic projects require nothing more than a drill and a jigsaw. But DIY veterans need a jigsaw too, no matter how many other tools they own. If you fall in either category, or somewhere between, this article will help you get more from your jigsaw. We’ll demonstrate a few practical tips, tell you what you need to know about blades, and point out which features to look for when you buy a jigsaw. PROTECT THE WORK SURFACE When making a cut, you need to firmly hold down the saw to keep the blade from chattering, and even then, it…

editors@thefamilyhandyman.com All it takes is one big gust of wind to whip your screen door back so far that it rips the retaining bracket right out of the doorjamb. The damage looks pretty frightening, but the fix is actually fairly easy. You can repair the jamb damage in about an hour. Then you’ll need a half-hour to paint, install a new closer and a heavy-duty wind chain, and after that you can call it a day. The total cost for materials is about $35. To do the repair, you’ll need two-part wood filler, a disposable plastic spreader or putty knife, a package of star-drive 3-in. screws, a star-drive bit and bit extension, sandpaper, and a drill. Add a wind chain if your door doesn’t already have one, and buy a…

editors@thefamilyhandyman.com Most remodeling jobs start with some kind of demolition. Knocking down walls and tearing up floors are not the easiest jobs, nor are they the cleanest. But there is something cathartic about bashing a perfectly sound (or perfectly wretched) structure into bits. We’ve gathered some tips to make your next demo project faster, cleaner and safer. We’ve even thrown in a few back-saving ideas. Pull nails with a nipper If you’re replacing windows, doors or flooring and you want to salvage the trim, end-nipper pliers are a handy tool to pull out brads and finish nails. The rounded end provides plenty of leverage, and if the nail breaks, you can always cut it down flush. Don’t squeeze too hard when gripping the nail, or you may nip it off…