I've been building quite a few projects lately out of birch plywood, including bookcases, shelving units and tabletops. I like using birch ply because it's readily available, not-too expensive, and it accepts stain, varnish or paint beautifully.
However, when building with plywood you must conceal any exposed edges with solid-wood strips or veneer. I typically use hardwood veneer edging on plywood parts that won't have to support an excessive amount of weight.
More specifically I prefer using iron-on veneer tape. It's a bit more expensive than plain, dry-backed veneer, but it's well worth the additional cost.
Old house dwellers know all about sticking doors—and what a pain they are to fix. Isn't it great how a teeny, tiny door hinge adjustment—say, after installing new carpeting or your door starts to stick due to settling or moisture/ humidity—could mean taking the door down off the frame, taking it outside to cut it down, sanding, planing, repainting if necessary, and finally, rehanging.
Instead of all that, consider swapping your ordinary hinges out for a set of Adjustable Door Hinges, after a quick, easy install, you'll be able to move your door up or down, up to a quarter-of-an-inch as needed. The only tools you need to wiggle your door around on demand are a screwdriver and a pair of pliers.
Here's proof, once again, that some people have way too much time on their hands: Someone has just invented glow-in-the-dark toilet paper.
Now you may be thinking, Why it world would anyone need such a thing? Can't they simply flip on the bathroom light or just feel for the roll?
Well, let me just say that you're overthinking this just a tad. It's glow-in-the-dark toilet paper! Not universal health care, although they both might meet the same fate.
Anyway, I found the whole idea of glowing toilet paper absolutely hilarious. It's called the, Glow-in-the-Dark Loo Roll, and it's sold by an on-line retailer in England. (I'm sure there's a joke in there somewhere.)
So an email about these fun, little lampshade covers called Frockz crossed my inbox recently. I will say, it's a very nice idea. Little changes can make a big difference, and if you have a short attention span when it comes to decorating, this can be your easy fix. It could even be a great way to jazz up a room for a special event or party.
A few years ago, glove manufacturers introduced a new type of work glove made from flexible, durable materials such as, nylon, polyester, even Spandex.
This new generation of work gloves typically has adjustable Velcro closures, synthetic leather palms, reinforced fingers, and English thumb patterns (whatever they are). Some are even machine washable.
I own a few pairs of these new work gloves, and I use them all the time. They're very comfortable to wear and have pretty good--not great--wear-resistance. Best of all, they provide greater dexterity than any other type of work glove, so you can easily pick up a single screw or nail without fumbling about.
Yet, as much as I like these new-fangled gloves, I'm not about to bid good-bye to my trusty leather work gloves.
The simple, humble plunger is known as the plumber's best friend, and for good reason: It's the first tool to reach for when you've got a slow-draining sink, hair-clogged tub drain or plugged-up toilet.
In fact, there's no easier, more effective way to clear common household clogs than with a plunger.
However, to ensure you're getting the most power out of your plunger, try this quick tip.
You've gone up and down your house carefully sealing and weatherstripping every window and door in sight, but have you done anything about that big hunk of draftiness, your whole house fan? Maybe you've duct-taped some paper or an old sheet around it, but I bet there still a pretty chilly draft making it's way in and undermining all the rest of your hard work. A cool product to help you seal out the cold wind is the Shuttercover Trim to Fit from RH Manufacturing.
Several years ago I thought it'd be smart--and economical--to buy a full gallon of Titebond II, my favorite carpenter's wood glue. At the time, I was buying 8-ounce bottles of the yellow glue, paying about $5 each.
So, I bought the gallon jug for only $20, saving 75 percent--or $60--over the cost of the small bottles.
I saw a tv commercial the other day for an electronic laser level, and it was being touted as an invaluable picture-hanging tool.
They showed projecting the laser line onto a wall, so you could then easily hang all the pictures at the exact same height, while also making sure each one was perfectly level.
Now, electronic lasers are definitely indispensable tools for certain jobs, but who needs one to hang pictures? Not me.
First of all, framed pictures always look better when staggered, so I never hang them all at the same height. Also, if I want to see if a picture is level or not, I just stand back and look at it. If it looks crooked, I straighten it out.
And, lasers are useless when it comes to the most tedious part of hanging pictures: precisely marking the wall for the nail or screw that will hold up the frame.
Fortunately, I've got a simple and absolutely foolproof method for marking where to nail, and it requires nothing more than a wire clothes hanger and pair of pliers.
In a recent press conference, President Obama was discussing energy efficiency, and proclaimed, "Insulation is sexy!"
Now that line may not resonate throughout history quite like Truman's, "This day will live in infamy," but its got substance just the same.
The president was trying to emphasize the importance replacing outdated heating and cooling systems, insulating walls, and sealing up drafty homes in an effort to save money and energy.
And Congress is crafting legislation for a new program called, Cash for Caulkers, that will allow homeowners to receive a 50% rebate on energy-saving products and installations up to $12,000. That means you could spend as much as $24,000 on upgrades, and get half back.
That's a sweet deal, especially if you need to replace a furnace or other piece of expensive equipment. But the very best, most cost-effective way to save energy is still the simplest: seal up drafts.
In fact, tests have shown that you can cut heating and cooling bills by 20% just by sealing and insulating. The problem is that many homeowners don't know where to look for costly leaks, or which products to use where. Well now expert help is just a mouse click away.
