Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2018 i Family Handyman

WHAT IT TAKES TIME 10 to 12 hours COST $325 SKILL LEVEL Advanced beginner to intermediate TOOLS Circular saw and cutting guide (or table saw), drill, jigsaw, miter saw, trigger clamps and basic hand tools LOADED WITH FEATURES 1. The wheels make it mobile (and the simple lock wedges make it immobile). 2. The drawers and recessed pegboard cabinet backs give you convenient places to stash tools, supplies and accessories. 3. The open side cabinet gives you space to store a small drill press or other slim benchtop tool. 4. The outfeed roller lends a helping hand for handling long materials. 5. The power strip allows you to plug in multiple tools. Of course, you could configure the workbench so one side holds benchtop tools while the other serves as a wide-open work surface. Over the years I’ve…

Exterior stone, including manufactured stone, can be damaged when it absorbs water and freezes. Applying a waterproofing sealer to the stone and mortar extends their life and reduces stone chipping and mortar cracks. A silane/siloxane product is best for this because it works without changing the color of your stone or mortar and allows the mortar to breathe. Buy a pump sprayer and silane/siloxane water-proofing product (about $30 to $65 per gallon at home centers and paint stores). To determine how much to buy, check the label for the product’s coverage and measure the square footage of your stonework. Mask off the surrounding area (Photo 1), then use the pump sprayer to apply a first coat followed by a “curtain” coat (Photo 2).…

SLOW-FILLING WASHER? CLEAN THE INLET SCREENS If your washing machine fills at a slow trickle, your inlet screens are likely plugged. These screens catch debris in the water supply and protect a washer’s internal parts. To get at them, turn off the water supply valves behind the washer, pull the machine out and disconnect the hoses. Remove the screens with needle-nose pliers. Be gentle; they’re easy to damage. Clean the screens or buy new ones at a home center or an appliance parts store. Carefully press them into place with a screwdriver. Before you reconnect the hoses, check them, too. Some contain screens that can be removed and cleaned just like inlet screens. MEASURE ACCURATELY–BURN AN INCH The hook at the end of a tape measure is designed to slip…

Flag your lawn problems I have a really big lawn, so I mow it with a riding mower. Occasionally I’ll stumble on a problem like weeds or an anthill that I can’t deal with right away. So I keep a supply of marking flags—sometimes called “stake” or “irrigation” flags—on hand. They cost about $2 for a 10-pack at home centers. I just stick one in the ground wherever I encounter a problem. After I’m done mowing, I can easily find the spots in my lawn that need attention. TOM SCHENK SAWDUST FOR OIL SPILLS Sawdust won’t remove the stain from an oil spill, but it can quickly get rid of the puddle. And if you have power tools, you’ve got a ready supply. Sprinkle a generous amount of sawdust over…

Even if you only do occasional trim jobs, you need a 23-gauge micro pinner in addition to your 18-gauge brad nailer. The skinny pins fasten returns and other tiny pieces without splitting. In most areas, you don’t even have to fill the nail holes—paint or finish will hide them. (If the holes are at eye level, though, it’s good to putty them.) Many pin nailers cost less than $100—you can even find one at harborfreight.com for about $30. Cordless models are available as well (the Ryobi costs about $130). Grex makes a version (about $280) that shoots pins up to 2 in. long.…

If your garage floor looks a little shabby next to your beautiful new storage cabinets, Rust-Oleum’s RockSolid Metallic Floor Coating Kit could be the answer. The two-part polycuramine coating creates a stunning high-gloss finish that’s tougher than epoxy and impervious to oil and gasoline. Rust-Oleum RockSolid is available in kits (about $120 each) that cover 75 to 100 sq. ft. It comes in eight colors, including Brilliant Blue and Cherry Bomb. Careful prep work is critical. After that, applying the coating is an easy DIY project that you and a helper can finish in an afternoon. See more at garagemakeover.familyhandyman.com. AFTER PREPPING, MIX THE FLOOR COATING Prep the floors by first removing any oil or grease deposits with a heavy-duty degreaser. Then etch the surface with the citric acid supplied…

Before you take on your next home wiring project, arm yourself with basic information about the electrical cable or wiring you’re likely to see. The wire and cable aisle at your home center can be a pretty confusing place. In this article, you’ll learn how to identify different cable types and their use, and how to determine the size of individual wires and their purpose. You’ll be able to cut through the confusion, get exactly what you need and ensure that your wiring is safe. Cable vs. Wire People often use these terms interchangeably, but there’s a difference: Cable is an assembly of two or more wires in a single jacket. Wires are the individual insulated or bare conductors inside the jacket. Wire Gauge Wires come in different sizes/gauges to…

USB (universal serial bus) cables and ports began as a means to transfer data between a host, such as a computer, and an external device, such as a hard drive or printer. USB soon morphed into a power source, with USB wall outlets being specifically for charging. These charger outlets convert 120-volt AC power to 5-volt DC power. You’ll find USB outlets at home centers and online. Expect to pay anywhere from $15 to $30. Here are some things to consider before you buy. More devices means slow charging USB charger ports in a wall outlet share the total amperage output. Phones typically take 1 amp. A tablet might take up to 2.4 amps. With two charger ports sharing 3.6 amps, you’re covered for charging a phone and a tablet.…

MINIMALIST DESIGN Quick-and-easy handrail Three slapped-together 2x2s do not a railing make. It’s hard to say which this getup fails at more miserably—looks or safety. THE RIGHT WAY Adding a custom-made wrought iron rail is the best way to provide a strong, safe, code-compliant handrail for your exterior stairs. After careful measuring, an ornamental iron company will weld the parts to create a perfect-fitting rail. The rail can be bolted down or set in holes that are then filled with mortar. AS DANGEROUS AS IT GETS ELECTRIFIED GAS LINE Bonding your CSST (corrugated stainless steel tubing) to your electrical system is required by code, but this is a disaster waiting to happen. The bonding clamp may pierce a hole in the thin wall of the gas tubing, and the plastic…

1. A BIT IS BETTER FOR SOME HOLES For holes 1-½ in. in diameter or less, a spade, auger or Forstner bit is a better choice than a hole saw. These bits are far less likely to catch and twist your arm, and there’s no plug to pry out, just wood shavings. So start building your hole saw kit with sizes that are larger than 1-½ in. 2. KEEP IT CLEAN Hole saws are often tasked with cutting through studs and joists, which are typically pine, spruce or Douglas fir. All of these species contain lots of pitch and resin, which build up on the saw’s teeth. This buildup adds friction, slows cutting and increases heat. This excess heat causes the teeth to dull very quickly. Cleaning off the pitch…

WHAT IT TAKES TIME 2 hours COST $40 SKILL LEVEL Beginner TOOLS Miter saw, table saw, brad nailer, drill, utility or knife We’ll show you how to build a 12 x 24-in. version, but you can easily size this design to suit your space. We built ours in several sizes. The shelf is wrapped with wood veneer—choose a color and species to match your trim or furniture. TIPS & DETAILS ■ Everything you need is available at home centers, including peel-and-stick wood veneer. Veneer is also available online in species and sizes you won’t find at home centers. A 2 x 4-ft. sheet of wood veneer costs about $20. ■ Don’t be intimidated by the veneering process. Peel-and-stick veneer makes it easy, even for novices. Don’t choose traditional glue-on veneer unless you have experience…

GOT A DIY QUESTION? Finding answers is easy at familyhandyman.com. Just use the search box at the top of the page to get expert step-by-step help with your projects. GOT A HANDY HINT OR TIP FOR US? To share your information with us, submit a copy of your original contribution, including photos and/or sketches, by email to: submissions@familyhandyman.com Or mail to: The Family Handyman, 2915 Commers Drive, Suite 700, Eagan, MN 55121 Please include your name, mailing address and email address if you have one, and indicate to which department you are submitting. We reserve the right to publish your submission in any appropriate department, or elsewhere. Contributions will not be acknowledged or returned. RIGHTS By submitting material to us, you grant Home Service Publications, Inc., its parent company subsidiaries,…