Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2015 i Family Handyman

editors@thefamilyhandyman.com A funny thing happened when I began thinking about writing this article: I started noticing pegboard everywhere—panels, hooks, doodads, you name it. Every hand tool in the hardware store was hanging on pegboard. Every bag of bolts, roll of duct tape and tin of Tic Tacs at the checkout counter—pegboarded. Even the pegboard hooks were hanging on pegboard hooks. But I guess that should come as no surprise. Retailers want a display system that’s sturdy, easy to rearrange and adaptable— the same qualities we need in our work spaces at home. PEGBOARD SPECS All pegboard has holes with 1-in. spacing, but there are two thicknesses and two hole sizes available. ■ “Small hole” pegboard is usually 1/8-in.-thick hardboard with 3/16-in.-diameter holes. The holes will accommodate only the smaller 1/8-in. pegs.…

editors@thefamilyhandyman.com Our friends in the deck business tell us that “re-deck” projects are keeping them busy these days: They tear off the old wood decking and repair the deck’s framing if needed. Then they install new decking, using low-maintenance composite deck boards. Usually, they install new railings, too. The homeowner gets a deck that looks completely new, without paying for new footings or framing. If that sounds good to you, check out these tips for a DIY re-deck. Brace before tear-off On many decks, the decking plays a big role in keeping the entire structure square. So add a diagonal brace under joists before you tear off the old decking. That will lock the joists in place and hold the deck square as you pull off the old boards and…

editors@thefamilyhandyman.com Become an Internet mechanic Cars have definitely become more complex, with computers running everything from the engine to the radio volume. But that doesn’t mean you can’t diagnose and fix your car yourself with a little help from the Internet. There’s so much good information online now that DIY car repair has never been easier. By visiting the right car forums, you can get help diagnosing the problem, learn how to do the repair and find the correct parts at good prices. And if you get stuck, you can even get advice from fellow owners and professional mechanics. Rick Muscoplat, TFH gearhead I volunteer on several auto repair Q&A sites, helping DIYers diagnose and repair their own vehicles. And I write an auto repair blog at ricksfreeautorepairadvice.com. My site…

editors@thefamilyhandyman.com Cleaning out gutters is a miserable, messy, stinky job. Installing gutter guards could put that headache behind you, but how the heck are you supposed to know which type to buy? In this article, we’ll examine the three most popular types of gutter guards: screen, surface tension and fine mesh. We’ll compare the different features, installation methods and prices to help you decide which ones will work best for your house. And if you install them yourself, you can save tons of money— some pro installers charge as much as $20 per ft.! The guards we’ll cover are designed for 5-in. K-style gutters, typical on many homes. Screens 10¢ to $2 per foot Screens are the most common type of gutter guard. They come in a wide variety of…

editors@thefamilyhandyman.com Replace a noisy bath fan If the bath fan in your home is more than 20 years old, chances are it’s pretty loud. A loud fan may be good for masking bathroom noise, but the jet engine roar is downright annoying the rest of the time. Worse yet, your old bath fan may not be moving enough air to keep your bathroom free of mold and mildew. Newer-style bath fans, on the other hand, are so quiet you can hardly hear them running, and they cost very little to operate. It’s easier than you think to swap out that noisy, inefficient bath fan, especially if you choose one that’s designed to be installed without ripping out the bathroom ceiling. Of the many replacement models to choose from, we picked…

editors@thefamilyhandyman.com If you own a skid steer, have access to one or plan to rent one for an upcoming project, here are some handy attachments you should know about. We couldn’t possibly show you the dozens of attachments available, so we talked with several dealers to see which ones they sell and rent the most. Our pro, Mike Doyle, a longtime heavy-equipment operator, gave us great tips to help you get your money’s worth from these popular attachments. And yes, a lot of these are as fun to use as they look. Move brush with a grapple You can move mountains of brush with this grapple attachment by following these steps. First, approach the pile with the bottom teeth parallel to the ground, and keep driving until the whole pile…

editors@thefamilyhandyman.com We’re sorry to report that our friend Roy Doty, the creator of Wordless Workshop, passed away this year at the age of 93. Roy was one of America’s most prolific and longest-working cartoonists. He got his start after art school, just after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was drafted into the Army and began drawing cartoons for “Why We Fight,” “Overseas Woman” and “Stars and Stripes.” Wordless Workshop is only one piece of his huge portfolio, but it’s unique. It is the longest-running syndicated comic strip by a single artist in American history: nearly 60 years. Wordless Workshop began in Popular Science in 1954. When Popular Science decided to drop it, The Family Handyman picked it up without missing a single month of publication. For the past 26…

editors@thefamilyhandyman.com Spray-paint perfection You’ve most likely never heard of Bonnie Seymour, but she did you a huge favor. In 1949, she suggested that her husband try putting paint in an aerosol can. He did, it worked, and painting got a whole lot easier. Here are some key tips for success with Bonnie’s brilliant invention. 1 Plastic paint works! Conventional spray paints just won’t stick to plastic. Now paint manufacturers offer paint just for that application. These paints don’t just stick; they fuse with the plastic surface to form a super-strong bond. Krylon Fusion for Plastic and Rust-Oleum 2x are two common brands. 2 Light coats and patience prevent runs The only sure way to avoid runs on a vertical surface is to spray on a light coat and give it…

editors@thefamilyhandyman.com Put on your thinking cap and take this month’s quiz to see just how smart you are when it comes to DIY. Here’s how it works: ■ There are easy, intermediate and really tough questions all mixed together. ■ There may be more than one correct answer! ■ Find the answers and get your DIY rating on pp. 90 – 91. Good luck! 1. When building a retaining wall, why is it smart to backfill with gravel rather than soil? A. Gravel is easier to handle than soil. B. Gravel provides excellent drainage. C. Rodents won’t tunnel through gravel. D. Soil contact harms some wall materials. 2. If you find dead bugs like these inside your home, you should: A. Evacuate the house. B. Call an exterminator. C. Seal…