Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2021 i Family Handyman

When we celebrated our 70th anniversary a few months ago, we heard from many readers about the role of Family Handyman in their lives. One of my favorites came from the heirs of the late Paul de Fur, the first editor of Family Handyman. His children shared the story of the black walnut tree their father had cut down a few years after the magazine was launched. It’s a story not only of the tree itself but also of the gifts they continue to create from it to this day—the tangible gifts as well as the woodworking skills that honor their father’s legacy. Last month we also marked a bittersweet moment. After nearly three decades at Family Handyman, Gary Wentz decided to hang up his shop apron. With his hands-on…

Fastening to concrete, brick or stone might be intimidating if you haven’t done it before. But I’ve found that the toughest part is drilling the hole; after that, it’s just like fastening to any other material. So don’t be intimidated! With these tips, you’ll be able to attach just about anything to concrete. What’s the Difference Between a Hammer Drill and a Rotary Hammer? HAMMER DRILLS often come as a combination driver that has a drill, drive and hammer setting. In the hammer setting, a pair of grooved discs rotate, making the chuck slam forward and back as the chuck rotates. This hammering force makes the drill bit chip into the concrete as it spins. MORE PRESSURE, MORE PROGRESS When you’re using a hammer drill, more force equals faster progress.…

These routers have very similar features: adjustable bases, variable speed dials and the ability to make micro adjustments. But each one has something that separates it from the rest. I paid close attention to the ease of bit adjustment, safety features, accessories and the general feel while cutting. BOSCH 12V (GKF12V) $149 (TOOL ONLY) This model is the only 12V tool on this list, but it has the power to do what the 18V tools can do. It didn’t struggle with any of the cuts I made with it. One thing I really like is that the bit is offset to one side, which lets you get more of the tool on the work surface. The height adjustment is very quick and easy. PROS ■ The tool is very lightweight…

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 idea with us, submit a copy of your original contribution, including photos and/or sketches, by email to: submissions@familyhandyman.com Or mail to: 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, affiliates,…

Boundary Setup Robotic mowers require a boundary wire around the perimeter of your yard and any obstacles like trees or garden beds. Some also need a wire to guide them back to their charging dock. The setup for a typical city lot can be done in an afternoon. Phone App Control Newer robotic mowers operate via a phone app. The Husqvarna uses GPS to map out your yard, and its Smart Connect app creates no-go zones where the mower might get stuck. The app also sets the cutting height and mowing schedules, accesses performance monitors and connects with Alexa or Google Assistant. Noise Level and Safety Robotic mowers are much quieter than gas mowers. The 450X runs at about 59 dB, compared to a gas mower’s 95 dB. For safety,…

Compact routers have a small base, and that, combined with one-handed operation, can make them feel slightly unstable. This simple oversize base with handles solved the problem for me. I built it in less than an hour with materials that cost about $20. 1 LOCATE THE BASEPLATE HOLES Remove the factory baseplate and position it in the middle of a 6-in. x 10-in. piece of ¼-in.-thick acrylic. Trace around the baseplate and inside the center hole, and mark the screw holes with a permanent marker. 2 DRILL THE HOLES Use a ¼-in. Forstner bit to drill partway through the acrylic at the screw holes. Drill just deep enough so the screw heads will be below the surface when you mount the plate to the router. Drill a 3/16-in. hole through…

There’s more to starting a healthy garden than just grabbing a shovel and starting to dig. First, you need to test the soil and cultivate the ideal conditions for whatever you plant to thrive. I spoke with Ashley Hansen from Bachman’s Garden Center to get her best advice for creating a garden from scratch. TRACK THE SUNLIGHT Take photos of your desired garden location in the morning, at noon and again in the evening to see how much sun it gets. To provide ideal sunlight for the widest selection of plants, place your garden in full sun to light shade. A vegetable garden requires full sun. START SMALL Consider how much time and money you’re willing to devote to your garden—not just to install it, but to maintain it as…

Roll-Up Dish Rack This is the perfect all-around kitchen rack. Made of steel rods wrapped in food-safe silicone, the Surpahs dish rack conveniently rolls up for compact storage. Heat resistant up to 400 degrees F, it also functions as a trivet for hot dishes or even as a cooling rack for baked goods. You can set it over the sink to drain washed produce or thaw frozen food, or you can set a cutting board on it and push scraps into the sink. And, it’s dishwasher safe. The 20-½ in. x 13 in. rack fits sinks up to 19-½ in. wide and costs $30. The smaller version (17-½ in. by 13 in.) is $25. You can find both online. MIKE BERNER, ASSOCIATE EDITOR CUSTOM LAWN CARE BY MAIL Don’t waste…

I’ve used just about every type of glue on the market today. Still, if I were to go strictly by the info on the packaging, even I might be a little confused in the glue aisle at my local home center. They all have strengths and weaknesses, and knowing how and when to use each type will make you a better DIYer. Best glue for a busted shoe E6000 craft glue ($5 for 2 oz.) is one of my favorite adhesives. It’s useful for many repairs, but I like it especially for fixing shoes. It bonds extremely well to leather and rubber, remains flexible after it’s cured and withstands a wide temperature range. Polyurethane glue for oily woods The oil in woods such as padauk, purple heart, olivewood and cocobolo…

A good first impression for a fast sale Of course, the best home-selling advice is to fix everything that needs fixing. But pay special attention to the things a buyer will see first. Anything needing repair or replacement will put a buyer off. Here are the top items you should focus on: ■ The front door or storm door should have a fresh finish and operate smoothly.■ A doorbell that isn’t working sends a clear message that you’re not on top of household maintenance. Fixing it is easy (search for “doorbell repair” at familyhandyman.com), and installing a new battery model is even easier.■ A weather-beaten mailbox and exterior light fixtures just look sad. One trip to the home center and you can update both. For all the how-to, search for…