Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2014 i Family Handyman

If you work or play in serious wet weather and mud, completely waterproof boots are the only choice. But in warmer weather, they can be torture—like walking in a swamp of your own sweat. The Original Muck Boot Company has come up with an improvement. Its “Chore Cool” boots have a moisture-wicking lining to help keep your feet dry. I wore them last spring, and the wicking lining helped, especially on days that started cold (the boots are insulated) but ended warm. Mostly, though, I love the regular features of Muck Boots: a soft top that doesn’t chafe your skin; aggressive Vibram soles; and stretchy, flexible insulation that keeps your feet warm without making you feel like you’re wearing buckets on your feet. Comfortable waterproof boots—what a concept! They have…

Building this patio and retaining wall is a big job, but it’s not a complicated one. In fact, this is as simple as landscape construction gets. The circular patio is built from specially designed pavers that fit together like a simple puzzle. The surrounding wall is made from modular concrete blocks. You simply stack them—you won’t have to measure or cut a single block. You’ll never have to lift more than 60 lbs. at a time, but you’ll be handling literally tons of material. So you could probably skip your weight training while you’re building it! We’ll show you everything you need to know. Allow at least two long, sweaty weekends of labor, one for the patio and one for the wall. When you’re finished, you’ll have a gorgeous patio…

WHAT IT TAKES TIME: Half day COST: $12 to $20 (depending on the finish) SKILL LEVEL: Beginner to intermediate TOOLS: Tape measure, square, circular saw or jigsaw, drill, 1-in. hole saw While visiting a cabin in the woods of northern Wisconsin, I saw the cute red stool shown below. Made by an anonymous carpenter, it was simplicity itself: pine boards, nailed together. And it had an interesting and ingenious design detail: a cloverleaf, clearly made with three overlapping drill holes. It was just the kind of little bench I needed for the backyard, so I went into the shop and made this modern version. A little longer and a little stronger than the original, but the same folk art detail. And since it’s made from lumberyard pine, the price can’t…

Keeping a wood deck in good shape takes a lot of work. Even if you stain or seal it, the boards can still crack and splinter, making the deck look old and worn. Switching over to composite decking is one option, though the cost may be prohibitive. But there’s another, far more affordable solution. You can save your existing deck by applying a deck restoration product. Deck restoration coatings are thick enough to fill all cracks, knotholes and splinters, and they provide a completely new textured surface that can last as long as 13 years without additional applications. You can do the prep work in one day, then apply the product over a two-day period the following weekend. You’ll need a power washer (rent it if you don’t own one),…

Drywall taping is one of the most important jobs on any construction project. A skilled taper can hide a lot of mistakes left behind by framers and drywall hangers. But a poor taping job can frustrate trim carpenters and make the painters seem like a bunch of hacks. A quality outcome requires the proper tools and materials (a steady hand doesn’t hurt either). We asked pro taper Scott Pauly to show us his three-day, step-by-step taping routine. He gave us some great tips that will help you end up with smooth walls and crisp corners. MEET THE PRO Scott Pauly started his drywall career as a teenager when his mother said he could have his own bedroom in the basement if he hung and taped the drywall himself. Since then…

FROM OUR READERS handyhints@thefamilyhandyman.com Hook-and-ladder truck Here’s how to easily carry long items on a truck. Attach a pair of flip-up tool or bicycle brackets to 2x2 wood posts that fit inside your truck bed pockets. My brackets are attached with drywall screws, but they could be bolted on for added strength. Just make sure to set the height of the brackets so they don’t interfere with your side mirror. They install in seconds, store behind the seat in your truck cab, and allow you to carry long items like extension ladders, PVC, gutters and lumber. Stay within the weight limits of the brackets, and make sure your cargo is strapped tightly. I used to carry long items over the top of my bed cap, but I didn’t always have…

OK, Einstein, you think you’re one smart handyman? Take our DIY IQ test to find out! Here’s how it works: 1. There are easy, intermediate and really tough questions all mixed together. 2. There may be more than one correct answer. 3. You’ll find the answers on pp. 52–54. Good luck! 1. The actual width of a 2x12 is: A. 11-1/2 in. B. 11 in. C. 11-1/4 in. D. 12 in. 2. Your project calls for size “16d” nails. What does “d” stand for? A. Penny B. Diameter C. Decimeter D. Denarius 3. Which type of plastic pipe requires a primer before it can be cemented? A. PVC B. ABS C. Plastic conduit D. All of the above 4. Which type of “ell” is the elbow shown? A. Short sweep…

One of our readers, Rune Eriksen, sent us photos of his design for a homebuilt deck drainage system, and we were impressed enough to check it out. His lowcost, easy-to-build system catches the water that drips through the deck boards and redirects it to the outside of the deck. Now Rune can use the area under the deck as a covered patio, where he can enjoy warm summer rainstorms without getting wet. Several commercial systems are available to create a dry space under a deck (see p. 71), but Rune’s seems to be just as effective. And it’s inexpensive and easy to build using materials found at any home center. Here are the details in case you’d like to build your own version. Thanks, Rune! Round up the materials Rune…

With all the new types of masking tape available today, it’s easier than ever to prepare a room for painting. You can buy low-adhesion tape to protect delicate surfaces; edge-sealing tape to create crisp, bleed-free lines; and special tape kits to mask textured walls. But there’s more to successful masking than having the best tape for the task at hand, and there are ways you can speed up the job. We collected these 10 tips to help you make the most of whatever modern tape you choose. 1 Clean moldings before you apply tape Even the stickiest masking tape won’t stay put if you apply it to a dusty, dirty surface. You’ll save yourself a lot of time and frustration if you start every masking job by cleaning the moldings…

Missing the signals It was chilly in the house, so my wife decided to turn up the thermostat. We waited several hours, but it still felt like an icebox, so I announced that I would fix the problem while she ran a few errands. I jacked up the temperature, but there was still no heat. I ventured into the attic to check our gas heater. Not seeing any obvious problem, I called for a furnace repair. The technician quickly noticed that the attic unit wasn’t receiving a signal from the thermostat. Then came the painful question: “When was the last time you replaced the batteries in your programmable thermostat?” To add insult to injury, my wife called right then to suggest that I try changing the thermostat batteries! Completely red-faced,…

My wife recently complained about having no space for her garden tools. It’s true—our garage was overcrowded, and the yard shed was crammed full of stuff. The solution was a mini shed on the exterior wall of the garage just for her. Now my wife is happy to have a place for all her garden tools, and when she’s happy, I’m happy. I spent about $450, but you could save $100 if you used pressure-treated trim boards instead of cedar, and three-tab shingles instead of cedar shingles and felt paper. The project took me about 20 hours to build, a few hours at a time. I wanted to build as much of this project as I could in the comfort of my shop, so I made each section an individual…

Pets, sewer gas, burnt food, smoke, skunks ... let’s face it, sometimes life stinks. Our sense of smell is a powerful one, which explains our powerful urge to get rid of bad ones when we encounter them. We rounded up some of the most putrid, foul, stench-laden scenarios to let you know which products battle them best. With these tips in hand, you may just come out smelling like a rose. Chlorinate a stinky drain Every few months, the water in our little-used basement sink trap starts to stink. The cause is a mystery, but the solution is simple: A half cup of bleach down the drain completely kills the odor … until the next time. Clean your car ducts Neutralize smoke and other smells in your car with an…

A sump pump is one of the most important (and most ignored) disaster prevention devices in a home. When this simple system fails, the results can be catastrophic, leading to thousands of dollars in damage, daily disruptions caused by major repair work and higher insurance premiums for years to come. So spending some time and money on avoiding failure makes a lot of sense. This article will show you how. What causes primary pumps to fail? The most common reason for pump failure is a power outage, not some problem with the pump itself. Common events besides power outages can also cut off the supply of electricity. For example, lightning can trip GFCI outlets, or someone can unplug the pump and forget to plug it back in. Assuming the power…

Don’t just polish—rejuvenate! You can rejuvenate your car’s finish yourself and get it pretty darn close to the factory shine. But it takes more than a simple wax job. The process starts with a good wash, followed by scratch repair, polishing and a protective wax finish. A pro would charge upward of $200 for this. But after a one-time $200 investment for a polisher and supplies, you’ll be able to make your whole fleet look like new. Our expert, Joey Kasper, can do the job in four hours. Your first attempt will take a whole day. MEET THE EXPERT Joey Kasper has been an auto detailer for more than 20 years. He specializes in luxury and collector cars as well as cars used for corporate events and advertising. His van…