Innholdsfortegnelse for Dec-13 -Jan-14 i Family Handyman

editors@thefamilyhandyman.com SHOP VACUUM BLISS This wet/dry beast from Craftsman has a 20-gallon canister, a 6-hp motor and the nice low price of $130. Too big? Well, Craftsman also offers a 12-gallon vac for $90 or a 16-gallon unit for $110. Whichever one you choose, you’ll be happy with the well-designed on-board accessory storage, which includes hoops on the lid for stowing the hose. My two favorite features, however, are the extra-long power cord and the amazingly quiet operation. This shop vacuum is 5 full decibels quieter than the one I currently use in my shop. You have to spend at least $100 more to buy a premium vacuum that’s any quieter. And according to Craftsman, its vacuums have better suction than those of the major competitors. Here’s the only thing…

editors@thefamilyhandyman.com This bookcase is truly a classic. The design has been in style since the ancient Greeks were busy building temples. But it’s built with tools those temple builders never dreamed of—like a router table, with its amazing capacity for creating moldings and intricate joinery. If you’re considering buying or building a router table, this bookcase is the perfect excuse. It’s a big project that requires some woodworking know-how beyond what’s covered in this article. But if you’ve built furniture before and are ready for a masterpiece project, this bookcase will give you the opportunity to learn top-tier woodworking skills like building fluted columns and raised-panel doors. WHAT IT TAKES TIME: 10 days COST: $1,300 using cherry SKILL LEVEL: Advanced TOOLS: Table saw, miter saw, drill, biscuit joiner, router table,…

The most common repairs are easy—and you can save $200 in 15 minutes High-efficiency (92 percent and higher) condensing gas furnaces are complex. They have multiple sensors and safety systems, all run by a computer. Some of the components are complex in themselves and require special equipment to diagnose and repair. But other parts are pretty straightforward and easy to replace. We talked to the experts at Superior Heating, Air Conditioning & Electric in Anoka, MN, to get the lowdown on which furnace problems generate the most service calls, which of those repairs can be performed by a DIYer and which ones are “pro only.” It turns out that most of the problems are caused by a clogged furnace filter or any of three easy-to-fix parts—the igniter, the flame sensor…

editors@thefamilyhandyman.com Gluing wood Modern wood glue formulas make it easier than ever to create strong, long-lasting and even waterproof joints in wood. But despite the improvements in wood glue, there are still plenty of tips and techniques you can use to speed up the job and improve the quality of the glue connection. Here are 10 of our favorites. 1 Mask glue joints before prefinishing Finishing the parts of your project before you assemble them can be a great time-saver and allow you to get a better-quality finish. But for a strong glue joint, you have to keep the joints free of finish (glue doesn’t stick to varnish or stains very well). The solution is to apply masking tape to the surfaces that will be glued. Then remove it to…

editors@thefamilyhandyman.com Fishing wire Fishing wires and cables through finished walls can be a perplexing and intimidating assignment. It’s tempting to cut in access holes all over the place, but you don’t have to do that if you play it smart. With a few simple tools and these tips from our expert, Tim Johnson, you’ll avoid a whole bunch of drywall patching, and have more time for real fishing! Check the whole wall cavity with a stud finder A decent stud finder is a must-have for every wire-fishing job, but don’t throw it back in your pouch after you’ve located the studs. Use your stud finder to check the whole wall cavity for obstacles like blocking and abandoned headers. You don’t want to find out the hard way that you should…

TOOLS & GEAR A BATTERY-POWERED JACKET Milwaukee makes a heated jacket to help us poor souls who work outside in cold climates. The M12 Cordless LITHIUM-ION Heated Jacket delivers up to six hours of continuous heat and is powered by the M12 REDLITHIUM battery, the same battery that powers Milwaukee tools you may already own. Everyone who’s braved the winter elements to earn a living knows it’s all about layers: You start with a bunch of them and shed them as the day warms up. Instead, this heated jacket has three settings, so you can adjust your comfort level as you go. That means you don’t have to start your workday looking like Ralphie’s little brother in “A Christmas Story,” and end it by running around collecting hats and sweatshirts…

editors@thefamilyhandyman.com My daughter, Kellie, recently bought a nice little house with a nice big coat closet by the front door. The problem is, since the garage is in the back, everyone, including the dog, uses the back door. I designed and built these hide-the-mess lockers with people like Kellie in mind. Each locker is big enough to stash a coat, backpack, boots, hats, and odds and ends that normally wind up on the floor. Since they’re modular and space efficient, you can build one for each member of the family—including the dog (leashes, toys, food, you name it). Now everyone has a personal place for stashing stuff—and the responsibility for keeping it organized. The louvered door is made from one of a pair of closet bifold doors, which you can…

editors@thefamilyhandyman.com Running a snow blower seems like a skill you could master in two minutes. But we wondered: If it’s really that simple, why are there 6,000 blower-related injuries in the United States every year? And why do repair shops get overwhelmed after a big storm? To get answers, we talked with experts at all the major manufacturers—as well as the guys who fix blowers. It turns out that operator error is the No. 1 cause of clogs and breakdowns, and improper clearing of clogs is the most common cause of injuries. The experts shared some great tips on how to avoid both. So even if you’re an experienced snow blower operator, read on. Don’t wait for it to stop If you’re in for a huge snowfall, start clearing the…

FROM OUR READERS handyhints@thefamilyhandyman.com Replacement sander pad The rubber cushion on my old palm sander was wearing thin around the edges. Because of its age, I couldn’t find a replacement pad. As I was drinking my beverage with a foam can cover around it, I realized I could cut the foam to fit the sander and glue it on. I peeled off the old pad, cleaned the metal base and attached the foam with contact cement. Works for clampon as well as stick-on sanding squares! You can find can covers at discount and convenience stores. Allen J. Muldoon EASY LABEL REMOVAL I’ve always loved to reuse plastic containers for storing parts and fasteners. But I’ve never loved getting the old label off. Recently, I discovered that if I fill the…

FROM OUR READERS greatgoofs@thefamilyhandyman.com Drip irritation Not long ago my husband read an article in a gardening magazine that showed a unique way to water foundation plantings. The idea was to drill holes in the gutters so that water could drip down and irrigate the plants. Well, this seemed like a great idea until we got our first ice storm of the year. At all the hole locations, we had icicles so big that they nearly touched the ground. It looked unattractive, and the extra weight was starting to pull the gutters out of shape. Guess we have some gutter patching to do in the spring! Just chipping away Part of our bathroom redo included installing a new bathtub. During the remodeling, I covered the tub with a drop cloth.…

editors@thefamilyhandyman.com I’ve been making sawdust for almost 40 years. During those four decades, I’ve used homemade sawhorses, store-bought horses and a few pulled from the trash. I’ve grown particularly fond of the folding metal sawhorses shown here. I own four pairs. They’re inexpensive, sturdy, easy to store and easy to set up, and they last darn near forever. So here are a few of my favorite tips for getting the most out of these old friends. And even if you don’t love folding metal horses like I do, read on anyway—many of these tips can be adapted to any kind of horse. CHANNELS ADD VERSATILITY You gotta screw lumber to the top of a folding metal sawhorse anyway, so why not build a simple channel and turn your horse into…

editors@thefamilyhandyman.com Tips for tackling stuck nuts and bolts Over the past few years, I’ve become a decent family auto mechanic—my grown kids have given me lots of practice. With the advice of Bobby, my diesel-mechanic brother-in-law, and Rick, our Car + Garage editor, I’ve tackled dozens of repairs that I used to hire out. Naturally, stuck fasteners were part of practically every job. Here are a few nut-busting tricks I learned along the way. Use an impact driver when you can An impact driver and a set of highend hex-shaft nut drivers are all you need to loosen small nuts and bolts. For larger nuts and bolts, you’ll need an impact gun and a set of six-point, impact-rated (black finish) sockets. Ordinary chrome sockets can’t handle impact work and may…

editors@thefamilyhandyman.com AFFORDABLE INSPECTION CAMERAS Not so long ago, video borescopes were for pros only—nobody else could justify the high cost. But over the past couple of years, many manufacturers have jumped into the market with models in the $150 to $300 range. So peeking inside walls, appliances and engine compartments isn’t just for pros anymore. The model shown (the General Tools iBorescope, about $250) is unique: Instead of having a small video screen mounted on the tool, it sends a wireless signal to your Apple or Android smartphone or tablet. Go to generaltools.com to learn more, purchase it or check out other models. To shop for other brands, search for “borescope” or “inspection camera.” DIGITAL FENCE GAUGE This digital height gauge (Wixey WR25 Mini Digital Height Gauge; $25 at amazon.com)…

editors@thefamilyhandyman.com Replace a serpentine belt In the past, carmakers used several belts to drive alternators, water pumps, power steering pumps and AC. But now those components are all driven by just one—the serpentine belt. So if that single belt fails, there’s no limping home—you’re stranded. In the meantime, if the oil change guy wants to install a new belt, resist the sales pitch, at least for now. You may be charged up to $125 for a job you can do yourself for as little as $30, in less than an hour. Before you begin, pop the hood and take a good look. You’ll see the belt at the front or side of the engine. It’s the one running around all the pulleys. If the belt is exposed and looks like…