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A hand planer is a muscle-powered woodworking tool that shaves thin layers off wood to give it a desired shape. Though the design hasn’t changed much in nearly two centuries, I believe a good hand planer will never go out of style. As a woodworker, I use hand planers regularly for all sorts of projects, like furniture making, dimensioning rough lumber and even shaping cedar shingle siding. Keep reading for all you need to know about choosing and using a hand planer....

Maria Dryfhout/Shutterstock Students from Leesburg, Florida broke ground yesterday on a home they will build alongside Habitat for Humanity staffers and professional tradespeople. According to the Daily Commercial, select students from the Leesburg High School Construction Academy will be participating in the building of the home from start to finish. In order to be eligible for this project, student applicants had to have completed at least a year of courses within the construction academy....

Whom It’s For If you mostly want to do down-and-dirty welding where appearance isn’t an issue, stick welding is for you. It’s a simple, cheap way to repair dirty or rusty trailers and equipment (especially outdoors). COST $100 to $1,000. PROS Economical. Best for welds that don’t need to look nice. Works well on dirty and rusty parts. No bottled gas required. CONS Best used outdoors—there’s lots of splatter and smoke....

Housing affordability is quickly becoming a significant issue in the U.S. To combat the rising cost of housing, the U.S needs a robust and healthy construction industry. But even though the latest reports show hourly earnings for construction workers are climbing faster than ever, the industry still finds itself facing a large and growing labor gap. Earlier this month, Alicia Huey, first vice chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), went before Congress to advocate for one potential solution to the trades’ labor issues: recruiting more women....

Family Handyman At What Temperature Should a Water Heater Be Set? Turns out, even plain old tap water can be dangerous. Several people (mostly children) are sent to hospitals each year with burns caused by water heaters that are set too high. But what does “too high” really mean, and how can homeowners make sure that their water heaters are set a temperature that won’t burn them? Well, the EPA recommends a hot temperature setting of 120-degrees F for both safety and energy-saving purposes....

Family Handyman Apply a Baking Soda Paste to the Stain Stubborn stains on countertops can be frustrating, but they don’t have to be permanent. Standard household spray cleaners will remove most of them. Check the label and make sure any product you use is recommended for laminate countertops. On This Page The secret to success with these products is patience; let the cleaner work for five minutes or so before you wipe off the countertop....

The first horseless carriages were open air cars and more of a curiosity than a mode of transportation. After World War I, closed-body cars became less expensive to build. By the early 1920s, closed-body motor vehicles became the dominant form of transportation in cities and towns across America. But with drivers still yearning for the feel of the open road, sliding “sunshine” roofs were introduced in the late 1920s. The 1950s and 60s were the heyday for convertibles, and sunroofs fell out of fashion....

If you’re interested in a more hygienic, economical approach to cleaning up after yourself than toilet paper, consider a bidet. If the word is new to you, or you have a basic understanding of bidets but want to learn more, you’ve come to the right place. What is a Bidet? Traditional bidets are floor-mounted bathroom fixtures designed to wash your private parts after doing your business. They have taps and resemble sinks, but are low enough to straddle comfortably for convenient use....

We love our yards, and we spend a bundle to keep them looking great. According to a 2018 survey by the National Association of Landscaping Professionals, Americans spent nearly $48 billion on lawn and garden retail purchases, including plants, sod, sprinkler systems, patio furniture, pavers — you name it. But what if your budget doesn’t allow you to spend thousands — or even hundreds — on your yard? HGTV personality and residential real estate pro Matt Blashaw tells Family Handyman that too often, “people renovate their homes and run out of money by the time they get to the backyard....

According to the latest NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), builder confidence in the housing market rose one point to a score of 76 in September. This slight uptick marks the first time in three months the HMI hasn’t dropped, signifying a fairly stable if not entirely optimistic outlook from home builders. The HMI has dropped 14 points since hitting an all-time peak of 90 in November 2020. Reasons for the drop include ongoing logistical challenges slowing the materials supply chain, as well as a slight decrease in the overall demand for housing in the U....

Did you think that the best time for planting everything is in spring? Surprise! Grass seed, for one, has a much better chance for survival if you wait until early fall. Read on to learn why, plus pro tips for successful fall grass planting. Note: Seeding times vary depending upon where you live. Content expressed here reflects recommendations for Northern lawns (north of Interstate 70) when seeding cool-season grasses, like Kentucky bluegrass, fine fescue and perennial ryegrass....

Stains on shirts are inevitable when you use deodorant or anti-perspirant. You never know exactly when they’ll appear, but at some point you pick up a shirt and see greasy, discolored spots and want to gag. These stains are annoying, but you don’t need to give up on the shirt yet. The solution is very simple and utilizes many ingredients that you already have sitting in a cabinet at home....

Long popular for its durability and comfort, frieze carpet continues to be a top-choice flooring option. Here’s what you need to know about frieze carpet so you can decide whether it’s the right option for your home. What is Frieze Carpet? Frieze carpet features tightly twisted fibers that appear curled or kinked. Steam is typically used to create that effect. Frieze carpet is dense and durable, making it a popular choice for high-traffic areas like hallways, staircases and family rooms....

What’s the Go Hang It Pro? via merchant The Go Hang It Pro is an all-in-one picture hanging and leveling tool. It comes with all the hardware and fasteners necessary to hang framed pictures quickly and easily. One of the best home improvement items for novice DIYers, this affordable gadget makes hanging just about anything a snap. The ergonomic handle also makes it simple for most hand sizes to grasp....

Buying a house is a huge decision with many things to consider and tips to glean. In 2021 6.1 million homes were sold. And yet, in a market with low inventory and multiple competing offers on so many properties, potential buyers are still walking away over deal-breakers. According to the most recent National Association of Realtors Confidence Index Survey, eight percent of contracts were terminated. The top reason for killing the deal: problems discovered in the home inspection....

Of the more than 12,000 known species of ants living all around the world, about 1,000 can be found in North America. Scientists believe that ant colonies have roamed the planet since the early-to-late Cretaceous period (around 145 million years ago). Today they inhabit every continent on Earth, except Antarctica and a few remote islands. Did you know that all ants have the ability to bite but only a handful living in the U....

Can you trim a hollow core door? Yes! But the question then becomes, what do you do to re-close the bottom? We’ve got a solution that is easier than reusing the wood block from the piece you cut off. On This Page Hollow door fix The next time you have to shorten a hollow-core door, try replacing the bottom rail with expanding foam instead of wood. Cut the door to the right length....

It might seem strange to wash something constantly surrounded by soap and hot water, but it turns out shower curtains get grimy really fast if they’re not cleaned regularly. The good news is, cleaning a shower curtain is really simple, as long as you know the right way to do it. Can You Machine Wash a Shower Curtain? Worried about your washing machine damaging your shower curtain? Don’t be. Sure, washing it in hot water can definitely do more damage than good....

I recently purchased a new home, and improving the landscape is high on my to-do list. Landscape design, however, isn’t always straightforward, and achieving a great look requires a little nuance. The stakes are also high. If you get it wrong, you might end up with dead plants and an ugly yard for all your hard work. Still, DIYers can save roughly 40 to 60 percent of the cost of a professional landscaper and dramatically boost their house’s curb appeal....

According to industry experts Water Damage Defense, minor and catastrophic water leaks cost homeowners and home insurance companies billions of dollars a year. At least 14,000 water leaks, residential and commercial, are reported in the U.S. every day! Luckily, homeowners can avoid costly repairs and a lot of headaches by installing one or more water alarms in their homes. You won’t save a bundle on homeowner’s insurance — discounts average just a few dollars — but you might save an insurance deductible by avoiding damage before it happens....