Ah yes, the hot glue gun. The warrior of your grandmother’s crafts table. It’s great for things like faux flower arrangements and fixing the broken button on that treasured nutcracker. But does a hot glue gun also have a place in the woodshop? Absolutely! In fact, it’s one of my favorite temporary adhesives around the shop. In my controversial opinion, it’s far better than that silly blue tape and superglue trick....
In 1925, 3M scientist Richard Drew invented masking tape. Almost 65 years later, the company made history again when it discovered the formula for ScotchBlue painter’s tape. Credited with revolutionizing the residential and commercial painting industry, painter’s tape can be found almost everywhere, from home improvement centers to paint stores and supermarkets. What is Painter’s Tape? Painter’s tape is a light-adhesive masking tape used to cover surfaces you don’t want to be painted....
karamysh/Shutterstock Builders grumbling about construction costs is nothing new because they can pass those costs along to home buyers. But the latest complaint is starting to gain more notice. Why are houses so expensive to build? Well, according to many builders, houses have become more expensive to build because of permitting fees. What to Know About Permitting Fees In Minnesota, John Rask of M/I Home Builders told Minnesota Public Radio that a three-bedroom home in Minnesota costs $60,000 more to build than in neighboring Wisconsin because of permitting costs....
Jne Valokuvaus/Shutterstock The snow has melted, the flowers have bloomed, and the dog poop is everywhere! When the winter months are upon you, it’s hard to actually go out in the snow and scoop your pet’s feces—especially when the temperature is below freezing. Plus, what’s the point of even picking up the dog poop if it won’t smell in such cold weather? So you let the dog do its thing, and wait for the spring to come before dealing with dog poop in the yard....
Some of the health benefits of using a hot tub include relieving tight muscles and sore joints, reducing swelling and lowering your stress level. If you’re considering reaping these benefits, there are certain things you need to know before buying a hot tub. Here are eight questions hot tub owners and experts recommend you ask before buying. Is the Hot Tub a Good Fit for the Space You Have in Mind?...
Setting up a home office space ranks as a necessity for more workers than ever before. There was a 173 percent jump in the number of people telecommuting between 2005 and 2020, according to research through Global Workplace Analytics — and that was before the 2020 pandemic mandated the situation. A truly healthy and productive setup isn’t as simple as plopping your laptop on your coffee table and calling it an office....
Motor Maintenance The maintenance and service differences between EV and ICE motors are like night and day. While an EV’s main electric motor doesn’t require maintenance, ICE-powered vehicles have a significant number of mechanical parts that wear out or need regular servicing. On This Page EV Avoid constantly charging an EV battery to 100 percent capacity, then letting it drop to zero charge. This can cause motor overheating and shorten battery life....
You finally have the backyard swimming pool of your dreams. What’s next? To amp up the enjoyment of your pool area and maximize outdoor time, consider a pool cabana. While the idea might conjure images of VIPs lounging in a lavish private cabana at a fancy Las Vegas resort, poolside cabanas aren’t just for the rich and famous — they’re a great way to enhance your backyard pool experience. And depending on your taste and budget, pool cabanas can be simple temporary structures you can assemble in a few minutes, or elaborate built-ins with outdoor TVs, a wet bar and other perks....
You’ll need: (4) 37-1/2-in. long 1×10 pine boards (actually 3/4 in. x 9-1/4 in.) for the doors and sides (2) 18-1/2 in. long 1×10 pine boards for the cabinet top and floor (1) 18-1/2 in. x 36 in. piece of 1/2-in. thick plywood for the back Scrap boards for a base Assorted fasteners Build this mobile tool chest and take all your tools to the job in just one trip. A new dolly costs about $30 and the boards for the cabinet about $20....
Persian rugs are a beautiful addition to any home, widely regarded for their quality, durability and workmanship. They’re made of wool and include intricate, handmade patterns that define their overall look. An authentic Persian rug can take from two to five months to complete and last for generations if cared for properly. Knowing how to clean a Persian rug is essential to guarantee its longevity. For the most part Persian rugs aren’t difficult to clean, but they do need special care....
Water heaters are big, clunky and heavy. If yours fails and you want to get rid of it yourself, you’ll want to enlist the help of someone else. Unless you follow these simple steps for disposing of it yourself. What to Do With an Old Water Heater If your water heater doesn’t work anymore, you’ll want to get rid of it. If it still works and you’re simply upgrading it, consider selling it on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace....
Finn Hafemann/getty images Mowing the lawn is to yard work what sunshine is to summer. It’s quintessential! But if you’re sick of pushing or driving, you may be considering other options, like a robot lawn mower. But is the switch worth the squeeze? What are Robot Mowers? If you’re tired of spending hours mowing your lawn, you may be enticed by a robot lawn mower. We love their efficiency. Available for lawns of varying shapes and sizes, they’re pretty smart....
Handyman Pro Many of the tools we use for fabricating sheet metal are manually operated. Cordless tools are now replacing some of those old-school hand tools. Here is the first of three new-school tools that will make the task of snipping and slicing through metal much easier and much more efficient. Check out more on this latest offering from Milwaukee below. Also, be sure to check out our reviews of more Milwaukee metal cutting tools....
From Winnie the Pooh to Calvin and Hobbes, tree swings have long been a touchstone of childhood. Depictions of this backyard icon go as far back as ancient Greece and the basic design has changed surprisingly little over the millennia. If you’re considering installing an old-school swing under your shade tree, here’s what you need to know for maximum fun and safety. What Is a Tree Swing? Whether the seat is a used tire or futuristic saucer, tree swings have one thing in common: They are all hung from a sturdy branch....
Gas-powered lawn mowers can be full of surprises. Perhaps the most startling one happens when you pull the cord and the engine sputters into action, only to be followed by clouds of billowing smoke from the motor and under the mower deck. What’s going on and what should you do about it? Why is My Mower Smoking? In most cases, a lawn mower’s engine suddenly bellows out blue or white smoke because the some of the oil spilled onto it....
What is Tack Cloth? A tack cloth or tack rag is a lint-free material—often gauze-like—impregnated with a tacky substance used to remove dust and dirt from wood prior to finishing; a task essential to applying a smooth finish. Paper towels, cloth rags and vacuums may remove dust initially, but they also kick it into the air where it can land back on your project—putting you right back where you started. This where a tack cloth comes in....
As a building trade, carpentry ranges from broad in scope to extremely specialized. All types of carpentry share a focus on manipulating wood-based materials, or metal materials designed to function as a wood-replacement. But each distinct task requires knowledge of specific properties or techniques that allow wood to perform structural, functional or ornamental roles. The United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners (UBC) names several broad categories of carpentry performed by its members, but tradespeople have the option of becoming much more specialized within those types of carpentry....
Several years ago, I made the leap to Hi-Def TV. Got the HD satellite box and TV, surround sound—the whole bit. I have to say I was disappointed. The picture wasn’t nearly as good as I remembered it being in the showroom. So I had the satellite guys out. “Nope, that’s HD, all right!” Really? Yep. Over the next year, I had two more different sets of sat guys come out for various reasons....
sturti/Getty Images Earlier this week, the United States Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released new guidelines for construction workers who may be at risk for exposure to the coronavirus. They include recommendations on personal protective equipment, facial coverings and safe practices to allow workers to conduct their their daily duties. “Employers of workers engaged in construction should remain alert to changing outbreak conditions, including as they relate to community spread of the virus and testing availability,” said the DoL in a press release....
The first step in any home improvement project is determining which parts and tools you’ll need. When building your dream laundry room, a key task is installing a dryer vent. There are two styles — indoor dryer vents and outdoor dryer vents — that perform the same function in slightly different ways. Here’s what you need to know before heading to the store. What is an Indoor Dryer Vent? Dryer vents remove excess heat generated during the dryer cycle in order to prevent fires....
