el re ht Ug ors plar-proot yo Urs) DIY tricks to bi TE = PANMIE UY | Worle FA molyin Sahel Mi oe rojaniy : ‘yollr eral : “ Ie one ip EeeCove TOM FENENSA, 2 32 50 Insulate, drywall and wire your garage for comfort and Our simple system lets you hang up just about anything Clear away cutter with customized garage cabinets. Sturdy enough for a pro, easy enough for a beginner. Clovor cluttor-busting ideas from our readers. Keep thieves out of your garage! What's new in garage doors. A propane-powered weed trimmer? Say what? Out-of-the-way recycling bins. 78 Garage heating smatts preventing scalding at home. Two routes to auto longevity. Finishing moxie from a pro. Clever garage door screens and a space-saving router table, SEPTEvBER 2009 VOLIME SS, NO, SoKtEOON B4 ° Using your noodle to protect your car doors, apply bumper stickers and more a " Batteries scattered all over the house and garage? Corral them in. this easy-to-build rack 92 : Priceless antique? Nah, it's just worthless junk thetamityhangyman.com Sepunce 2009 1TABLE OF eS parogg storage space ® Check out the video that goes with “Super-Simple Workbench” on p. 50! Senior editor Travis Larson walks you through the steps to building this cool bench. Find all our DIY videos under “Editor's Picks” on our home page. > > > > > Our editors sound cff on their favorite tools and gear, You can post your opinions too, Fornewaniph sburpion, acharect ass. tlp ‘etna ben ase yt Th Fam Hanan Stoserter Srey Dent io ites SIS ‘ea(000) 2054961 Orvedusevernalat Fistonenaracom Aloe oo Ss or asses charge We 007310 for aay Hr at ot Shon pubian subratyeurengalconovton dong rt Protaras by evra Resaynntstmetamiynaneymancom entgootstnetamar yan com | | Bentscetretmtmancymancom Faber sear ae mate but you ap | soclocenretemiyrenciman com Join our Reade Feedback Panel ard give us our apevans about te mogaane As a mam Denyou canta wnat you te anc what you ‘ont ike and share your ideas for stoves that “Tojo the Render Feadback Panel, goto thetamighandyman eor7pane and com 8 Eagan, MNS5I2) | | tuveye Thank fo Youre, and we ook for Uae conga sony canoe Imystenoihetamiynsncyman.cor Suseeet nay rie oy fas cen wart to Sens ematon pose et iB: he es Dee 3515 Commate Dive. Sul ; | taesrrrremucnsiar at, Sorerastsisuest sly $300, fet topuoian yer sobre mony soprotate Rincepescfgtcmeeoniaseta 00exhcal 5) | | {Elarefen tye ecee sma ascrors we Messin ur tasam eta heey Ooh ‘lier te pezon ra scbmited he em re inte ite nla edocs Siense We're locking for DIYersto help us make Beets ean ren cee . The Family Handyman better Become a Sunenalatanujinarenderancan”” |_| tas) farpuication wu grartvone sewice "| QEtA fel edton whetnet youre a novice 5, Fibltatons ine Regorencomaany sostars, | DIVE of a veteran. It youre willing to ' : Siises pare anlewnsartnnacucect” | share our opinions and experiences, Weve oa acer te ihemotelal angvaurnare hergharewrtewr | &malusat ‘tor efor sonoma Masinrepedoccensenroue'te matcalss” | edners@tnetaniyhandyman com. Bscanmarbr sui 0, Beant sNinezsa, | Eratcsiottelsnimaromancon Submstion fr bt you wllee ad y Mra gus Beat) er regio making a mess of your garage floor? it's time to say, "mess no mere on ush that melts and makes puddles from running and spreading all over your garage flor by creating a dam around three sides of your cr. The een ees where it belongs. The easiest way to accomplish this isto lay a single bead of minimum expanding spray-can foam insulation across the front and down bath sides of your car. It will all winter, and can be easily scraped off inthe spring, Want abit of extra protectio eee Pea hes Whether you're out for the day or an extended vacation, your aut atic garage door opener thieves patrol residential neighborhoods with Se ig home for an extended period of time, you should unplug the gar nd the inside door that provides een? ee ee ae ea eee el motor and lock bath the quter garage doar ere ee Cre ee smber code ~ it's like leaving your Key under the door mat! Savvy thieves know the factory Settings for almost every major brand of opener, andif you don’t change it, you're leaving your hme wide open, While you'e away, r your garage door opener is actually another ee a ae ee en ee Tee es Teer Ce ee ae Re eee) sensitive to dust and pollen, When it's time to change fer in the furnace or ar conditioners, = but for furnaces and air conditioners, ‘pies ome folks use a sprey-on filter treatment that increases a filter's dust-grabbing ability. This oups-up the ftering "horsepower" to catch more atborne dust and pollen. But you can do what we Carey Brothers do. Give each filter a good sprit of your wife's favorite household dust-map spray. it does essentially the same thing as the special spray — and works, perhaps, eee ee ares Here isa great way to test fat latex paint when comparing one brand against another. Since ee een a test should prove ee ee ee et ee a Place a drop of food coloring onto each dollop of paint. The oe) Deer ek ets cs re A ‘Ask ne Carey srotners @ home improvement oF remodaiing seston ‘on theirive radio broadcast every Saturday ftom 9:00 axm. to 1:00 pm. an mecarey Groner Eastein Time. Cal folttee at 1-800-737-2474 fo ask your question brought o yout pat by Vist thelr website at www.onthehouse.com for fecops of the show & other helpful info SeriousWindows”, Stginhandiek THe FamHOME rN pels m sy targets for all types of thieves, whether it’s teens who steal beer from your garage fridg or professional burglars who start by then return the ou out “garage shopping’ In about one-fiith of home break-ins, the slea inters through the service door on the gerage. We spoke to a cialist in burglary prev up with this list of th Keep out the crooks. All the strate you can do to are simple, fast and cheap, anc snhance your security. 6 secumbe- 2002 thefamitynana by Jeff Gorton editors@thetamilyhandyman.com Don't leave your remote in the car Thieves know right where to look for your garay take the remote ar. The handiest way to do this mall keychain version with you when s to replace your bi to $40 at hor er). Match the remote to the bran low the instructions for programming ve lost the remote for the door opener, it’s has ended v ong hands came with your opener to reset the code, disabling the lost ou leave t remote with a ible that it To be safe, follow the instructions thatFor a service door, the solution is to install a good-quality dead bolt and reinforce the doorjemb and hinges to resist a brute-force attack. The best dead bolts have an ANSI Grade 1 rating, but even a Grade 2 lock will provide above- average security, Look for the rating on. the package. But even the best dead bolt won't help if the doorjamb and door aren't reinforced. Before installing the dead bolt, strengthen the lock area of the door with metal sleeve (Photo) Then install a strong strike plate that's securely attached to the well framing with long screws (Photo 2). Heavy-duty strike plates are available at home cen- ters and hardware stores. Hinges that are installed with the usual wimpy 9/4-in. screws are nearly as easy to kick in as a wimpy door latch, So while you've got the drill and screws handy, remove one of the short screws nearest the weather stripping from each hinge and replace it with @ S-in. screw (Photo 3). If you have an attached garage, use these same meth- feds io reinforce the door from the garage into your house. Also make sure to keep this door locked; otherwise, burglar who gains access to the garage can walk right in, B Seoterbe2009. thefamityhandyman.cem Taian " “ Prevent the door rom spltingby wrap- "Reinforce the weakest nk on your ngitwth ametaltackreiorer man dx serace coor by mnetaingehesey-duty theedgeot thecoorandchselashaliow ” stikebles wthexta-ong sews that recesssochevenforceristshtoine. pence te ramingat ast in door's edge when it's installed wearer STRIPPING ‘Strengthen the hinge side of the door by replacing one of the screws in each hinge with a 3-in-long screw that penetrates the framing, Replacing existing light fixtures with, ‘ones that have a built-in motion detec- tor is an easy way to make your garage and house more secure. Burglars will be reluctant to jimmy open a door or window when they're working under a bright light. Or you can add a stand- alone motion detector that connects to your existing lights. Ifyou live in cold Climate, don’t use compact fluorescent bulbs in the light fixture, They take too long to light in winter, giving thieves extra time for thetr mischief. ‘thefamilyhandyman.com A sesice your exter ight wtnaimotion sensing fixture for extra secu. Go to thefamiyhandy- ‘manconvmotiondetectright.To prevent burglars from “casing the joint,” cover glass so they can’t “win- dow shop.” Use curtains, shades or blinds. Or apply a translucent film to the glass that obscures vision but still lets in light. Plastic film like this is available in several patterns and costs $8 to $15 for an average-size window. You'll find it in the window covering department of home centers as well as at full-service hardware stores and win- dow covering retailers, It’s also avail able online (search for “privacy win. dow film”). Installation is simple, Follow the instructions included with the film you purchase. If they can't simply enter through an open door, buzglars will often try to come through windows because most are relatively easy to pry open ot break. Breaking a window is their last choice because of the noise. Luckily it’s not Aifficult to eliminate this chink in the man-cave armor. First, make sure to lock windows if possible. If you have windows that you don't open, screw them shut. But for the ultimate window security, add strong bars across the window #0 that thieves can’t get in even if they pry open the window or break the glass. Ready-made bars are available, but it's easier and cheaper to use @ few lengths ‘of 1/2-in. steel pipe (ohotoleft). Use eithor prvcut and threaded pieces of 1/2.in steel pipe or measure for the lengths you need and have the pipe cut and thread- ed at the hardware store, Space bars every 6 to 8 in, Get two ue tees, two 3/8-in. washers and two 3-1/2-in. x 8/8-in lag screws for each bar. ‘Thread a tee onto each end of the pipes. Then attach the pipes to the framing by munning a lag screw through washer, then through the tee and into the framing. Expect to spend about $8 per bar. 10 seotarser009 thetamitynandyman-comWhen you go away on vacation, unplug the garage door opener. If you don’t have an opener, padlock the latch or disable the door by putting a bolt through one of the holes in the garage door track. This will prevent someone from coming in through the overhead door while you're away. Help us improve The Family Handyman by sharing your opinion of this and other anicles. Seep, 2 for details. Leaving the garage door open is practi cally an invitation to burglars, not to mention that you're really presenting a storefront window display of your pos. sessions to anyone driving by. But if you're like @ lot of other people and tend to forget to close the door, or have kids who forget, there's an easy sohi- tion. Install @ device that signals your garage door opener to close the door after a predetermined amount of time. One brand is Garage Butler (about $60: garagebutler.com; 918-274-1037). You can set the amount of time that elapses before the door closes, or override the control if you want the door to remain open. It takes about an hour to install the sensors on the garage door track and the keypad that connects to the ‘opener control. One more point: When you're leaving for work, don't just hit the remote button to close the door and then drive away. Wait until it eloses to make sure it doesn’t reopen 1 thetamitynansymanccom Stersnzo00 TLcua you're in the market for a new garage door, consider ‘upgrading to an energy-officient model. You'll reduce your energy bills, and you may also qualify for # homeown- os tax credit equal to 30 percent of the cost of the garage door! (Visit energystargov for details on the tax credit.) Clopay's Classic Line Collection Premium Series garage doors (model $203 shown above) now feature three layers of polyurethane insulation foam sandwiched betwoen galva- nized steel layers with a thermal broak. Single doors start at $750 and dauble doors at $1,300. The added insulation near- ly doubles the thermal protection offered by older insulated garage door models and bumps the R-value up to a whop- ping R-17.2. Other Clopay garage door collections with the same three- layer insulation option include the Coachman Collection (shown right, $1,200 for a single door and $2,400 for a dou ble door), the Gallery Collection and the Grand Harbor 12 sertemer200 thatamityhanayman.com byElisa Bernick eitoest@thetarilyhandyman.com Collection. Clopay’s Web site provides detailed information on all these collections. It also includes a free interactive Web tool that lets homeowners upload a digital image of their home to “try on” garage door designs in a variety of materials and colors to find the perfect match. dopayéorcam, (800) 225-6723A lot of “green” products don’t work or really aren't arth friendly, but according to Vermont Natural Coat- ings, its PolyWhey Floor Finish products measure up on both counts. The durability of most wood finishes comes from petroleum products, which increase their toxic emis- sion levels end create a strong odor. PolyWhey is a water-based polyurethane that replaces the petroleum ingredients with whey, a natural byproduct of cheese processing, According to the manufacturer, PolyWhey is not only odor free with lower toxic emissions, but also exceeds the durability of other water-based finishes Finding a vessel sink that is simple, elegant and afford: able is challenging. Simple and elegant are easy, but the cost of these sinks can be astronomical. Decolav’s Clas- sically Redefined Collection bucks the trend. The collec- tion features vessel, drop-in and under-mount sinks that marry classic elegance with contemporary design at rea sonable prices. The oval ceramic sink shown costs $233 and is part of a collec. tion that includes many dif- ferent styles and shapes ranging from $200 to $500, Available at Home Depot, from online retailers and in showrooms around the country. To find a dealer visit Decolav’s Web site, coavcom, (561) 20-200, 0 and is quick drying and non-yellowing. PolyWhey has been getting kudos by industry professionals for both its durability and ease of application. Available in semigloss and satin, a gallon costs $65 and covers about 600 sq, ft. ermontnatuaotngsom, (802) 47-8700 Help us improve The Family Handyman by sharing your opinion of this and other articles See p.2 for detals, tnetamiiynanayman.com ssetrve2909 13 wwew kreglig.com | 800.447.8638NEW TOOLS etter thefamiypanayrancom A value for the money by readers ‘kt Orion 808 UNGAR: Poteoahy TOM FENENGA, ace het you're still using the jack from your trunk to lift your car, you know what a slow process itis. Check out the Kobalt 3 ton garage combo kit, which can safely jack up a vehicle in seconds. The kit consists of a heavy- duty floor jack and a pair of jack stands. Jack stands are crucial for safety if you're working under the car. But what really makes this combo kit special is the $125 price tag. A floor jack and jack stands of this quality typically cost a couple hundred bucks or more when bought separately. The only downside: The jack is super heavy and hard to catry, so it’s only for your garage. The kit is available at Lowe's stores (item no. 86476) and lowes.com, ‘Lowe's (800) 45-6937 towescom 14 septerte 2009. thetamitynandyman.com‘The Magnetic Tool Cribs from Griot's Garage stick to metal sur- faces, like your toolbox or vehicle, to provide instant trays right where you need them. They'll hold all | Sola’s Picture Hanging Level ($30) has four brackets that slide along the level | your fasteners, parts and tools to mark locations for nails, brackets or wall anchors, The level makes quick | while you work in the shop or work of transferring mounting points from an object onto the wall, without | under the hood. ‘any measuring. just place the level against the object, slide the brackets over Each tray is held in place by the mounting holes, then hold the level on the wall and make your marks You'll appreciate this tool every time you hang pictures, towel bars, shelves or anything else that requires precise mounting locations. This isn’t a pictore-hanging gimmick tool (we've seen lots of those lately). This is a well-made 31-in. straightedge that does double-duty as a tradition- | length from 5-7/8 in. to 12-1/8 in. al level. I's available at Rockler stores and rockler.com (item No. 25958). Buy them at the Web site below. | large magnets, which are coated so cites (800) 209-441 oclencomn | otseran e003 ene they won't scratch paint. The set of four ($40; No. 7549) are 4-1/2 in, wide, 1-1/8 in, deep and range in The downside to most adjustable pli- ers is that you have to slide open the jaws to an approximate setting before pmedeune you use them, You also have to con- /UBMBENDS stantly adjust the locking screw. Whiteford Tools’ Self Adjusting Locking Pliers solves that problem by automatically adjusting the jaws for you. Grip the pliers onto the | object, slide the center lock closed, When you're done, turn the knob in the pipe es well as locking pliers with then turn the pressure dial knob to opposite direction and release the lock. arc-shaped jaws. Buy the pli | increase the gripping pressure (the ‘The jaws open as wide as 1-5/8 in. the company's Web site for $25, plus | company says that one-half turn We found that the pliers easily handle shipping. increases the grip by 400 percent). nuts and bolts, but they don’t grip bare Whtefod Tos, (800) 342-9532 wntefortaols om 16 Stpnnie2002 tnetamilyhansynencomThe Ultimate Paint Squeegee from Griot's Garage showed up at our office on a rainy day, so we went to the park- ing lot to try it out. It made short work of wiping the water off vehicles, especially the windows. When you wash your cat or truck, you can use it along with a towel for much faster drying— without water spots, ‘The thick squeegee blade is super soft closed-cell foam, so it conforms to the shape of your vehicle and doesn’t squeak like other squeegees. The squeegee (item No. 82187) also works great for wip- ‘The trend in lawn and garden equip- ent this summer has been environ- mentally friendly engines. That’s why you've seen more fourstroke engines (they run cleanor than a two-stroke}. But Craftsman’'s new weed trimmer doesn't need gasoline—its four stroke Leht engine runs on propane. There's nogasto. mix and store, no stale ges to gum up the engine, no gas emissions and no power cords to hassle with. 1 own this trim- mer and 1 Jove I 1 pada starts on the CaMSTER first or second pull, with no ing down tile walls and the shower door after @ shower. Buy it at the company’s Web site for $15. Gots ane, (800) 345-5729, wlotgnogecom engine priming or choking. Five attachments are available (not includ- ed) for turning the trimmer into an edger, blower, cultivator, brush cutter or pruner. The trimmer uses the small propane can isters that portable De grills use, The 16.4-07. canisters cost $3 at home centers and hardware stores. Crafisman says one canister will power the trimmer at full speed for two hours, but I've actually trimmed for more than four hours (with a lot of idling}. At $220, the trimmer costs more then most other models. but it runs clean. It's available at Sears stores (iter No, 79211). Craftsman cattsrancam If you vso your shop vacuum as a dust.collector for power tools, you know it’s a hassle to constantly ty the canister and clean the filter. The Dust Deputy from noida Air Systems converts any shop vacuum into an ad hoc ver sion of mote serious—and more expensive—dedicated dust collec tors. The bucket collects most of the dust and chips so they don’t fll the shop vacum’s canisterand clog the filter. Emptying the buck- ot is @ breeze (check out the video on the company’s Web site). The complete kit (including bucket and hose) costs $100. If you want to supply a bucket and faston- ers, the cyclone alone costs $60, but then you'll have to figure ont how to hook everything up. Both options fre available on the Web site ‘reid A Sates, 000) 732-4065. sieputycom‘Tat Stewardship Responsibties Natice ta Farmers reosano Compa sa menzerof Een Tesgh ‘Sonardenp" (19), Th pt ns een enna incamplane wie Es oss! 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RarotaTeeroay ‘see a Cae fr ean mat eg ‘opr agar ara rau ape eA made eogopial esos oe plang 8 ton Senuity" Smartstax™ IMPERTAIT Grain Marketing and Seed Avalbity: ‘enulty™ Smarttan hae reese recess pores ‘othe Unie aes, noweey ae Sapte 2009 apres Tove ot eenaceed mera nan ex markt Gen? Smart wi re gta sed wil rt ‘alia ater ing approvals a eatin peop Senuity” VF Tape PRO™ PORTANT Cn Markt and Sem aby: Geniy™ Let Sa, nner af Sst 200 aor ae natbeen eed nal mp zamergot mae emu” VT ‘ip RO” sa wl oy abe tof aon amarsaton ga at cuss Gi mee esp ragurerrts fis lt naleea an iar ona rats eisai Cosul wi your aed represent sewatas tarwan, ‘unas RxD av FLOW eS LL DRECTIONS. aad Gent Gry ane eg Famig Aan” Gat coe ure ura ey, oa Read 2 Yl SrartSta” Sarr sa Dir Ele PAD” lr VP ard Noa ae ae ‘raters of Moat Tetooe LLC bay Link ‘te Wtar Drege ee gn seis racema cl ay CrnpSoanos a eel 3 amr of aw aga Bene Mosumo any. ck ho Rete ne caten Dein ina gre er Maoata oS LL Reet ioe ‘Co Desig enna taserark ater Can ‘rows sesaoaten = as ae a Fully loaded wheelbarrows and garden carts are hard to push and easy to tip aver. But Neuton's bat tery-powered Garden Cart makes hauling a snap! Turn the key and press a lever, and the self-propelled cart totes loads up to 200 Ibs. It has two forward speeds {fast and slow) plus reverse. The front wheels are set undor the cart for easy dumping. and a single ack wheel pivots for great maneuverability The $320 price includes tho 12-volt battery and charger (plug it into any out- let). Accessories that increase the hauling capacity are extra—the rails shown here cost 2 '$50. Buy it ai Neuton’s Web site or at dpower.com (item No, 22721). Newton, (800) 799-2921 neutonpowercim Several types of bike storage prod. ucts, from a simple hook in a rafter to elaborate floomto-celling racks, are available at home centers. Some work great, others not so well Gladiator's Claw is in the frst cate- gory. It fastens to a rafter with two | screws, then holds a bike rim to sus: pend the bike from the ceiling. The Claw uses a plunger system—press the tire against the plunger pad and the hook arms wrap around and hold the rim. Press the pad again to open. ‘The Claw can hold up to 75 Ibs. and the rubber-coated arms won't scratch your rims. Although the Claw is admittedly expensive at $40, it's durable and easy to use. Find retail- erson the company’s Web site or it on amazon.com. Stator arageWorks (866) 342-4088, sladatorsacom 1 Help us improve The Family Handy- ‘man by sharing your opinion of this and other articles. See p. 2 for detailsca EE en Convert your drafty, dingy, spider-infested Dele garage into a bright, comfortable work space nfinished garages are fine for parking your car and storing bikes and lawn ‘mowors, but they don’t usually pro- vide clean storage epace or a nice place to work. Without adequate ‘wiring, insulation and wall finish- es, @ garage can be hot in the sum- mer, cold in the winter, dimly lit and in general an uncomfortable or inconvenient place to work. But you can transform your garage into 4 comfortable room by adding wiring, insulation and wall cover- ing. A finished garage can do dou- bis duty es a workshop, mechanic's spice, play space for the kids or even a party room. These tips for framing, wiring, weatherproofing and drywalling will help you get you garage-finishing project off on the right foot by Jeff Gorton editors @thetamilyhandyman.comMost rough-framed garages aren't | ready for drywall. Your gerage may bbe missing studs at the comers and attachment points for the ceiling dry- wall. To see whore framing members may be missing, inspact inside cor- ‘ners where walls meet and where the walls meet the ceiling. These are the ‘most common areas needing addi tional framing. These two photos : show how to add ceiling blocking, Soe wait until you'"e Netting a sheet cf drywall ovesnead to discover missing blocking. While the framing is accessible inspect the framing around the perimeter to see wrere more support is needed before and you have your carpentry tools you lift the drywall, Nat 2x4s to the top plate on the end walls # necessary, out, you may want to add other fram- ing or structural elements. Here's a list of possibilities: ‘Add blocking between studs for attaching shelving, m Nail blocking between ceil ing trusses for hanging lights, cord reels or bicycle hooks. Frame an opening for an attic access hatch. Frame a ceiling opaning for 2 drop-down attic ladder. Cut a hole and frame en opening for a through-the- wall air-conditioning unit. — _ 7 iid Vlights, Check the drywall on the house side for missing blocking. Marka ine by spanning the merges or sky ight bottom of the russes witha straight 2x4 at each end of the wall. Chalk a line between the marks and screw a 24 to the wal studs along the tne caste ia = ‘Most unfinished garages have the bare minimum of outlets and lights, so you'll want to add @ few. And in some cases, you'll have to reroute wiring that’s attached to the face of studs or the underside of ceiling framing. We had to reroute phone wires, door ‘opener control wires and plastic~ | sheathed cable in our garage, Remove surface-mounted wiring and move it into the stud space, or reroute it over ‘working on wing, the top of the ceiling joists or trusses. suite cones Youmay have to drill holes through connect winng that wil interfere with hanging the drywall First shut off the power studs or through the top plate of walls Then deconnect ine cable atthe nearest electrical box and use side cutting pers to to reroute wires. If so, be sure to. carefully pry out the stapes. L 22 seotaron2009 thetamityeandymanccomcenter the holes on the stud. If the plastic-sheathed cables are too short to reach the next box when you reroute them, you can add a junction bbox and splice on a length of cable. The new box must be accessible either in the attic space or through a blank cover on the wall or ceiling. This is also a good time to add out- lets, lights and ever: another 20-amp circuit for power fools. Figure Ashows some wiring improvements to con- sider. The bottom photo on p. 22 and the photo at right show rerouting the wiring fora celling light. Call the local building inspections department to get a permit before you add or change wiring, and have the wiring inspected before you cover it with drywall or insulation, Not up for doing the wiring yourself? Extra out lets and good lighting are well worth Reraute wiring through stud spaces or through the attic. Secure sheathed cable with the cost of hiring an electrician. cable staples every 4-1/2 ft. and within 8 in. of electrica! boxes. Figure A Plan your electrical needs DIY Success Story Do you havea DIY success story? “Te smartest thing lain ry garage was toad lots of outlets. put themhigh on Send to mystory@thelamiynandyman. walls, low on walls, even afew switched outiets inthe celing to power pivs-in type com (see p 2 or contaibutor guidelines) fluorescent lights. Fourteen outlets in all My wifehougn|wasmuts, but ve never if we print your story, we'll pay you $100. regrettedit. No matter wrt m doing, easy-access powers ight there We love seeing your photos, too! Terry Wiley thetamitynanayman.com Serenterz00° 25.An insulated garage will stay cooler in the summer and warmer in the | winter, The first step is to be sure the RencLass INSULATION atic is well ventilated. Check to see how many attic and roof vents you have. A good rule of thumb is a total of 1159. ft. (144 5q, in.) of vent opening per 300 sq. ft. of attic divided between the soffit and roof vents, For a typical 20 x 22-f. garage, you'd need about six 4-in. %12-in, soffit vents and two standard square roof vents. Make sure your ven- tilation is effective by installing vent chutes between the trusses (photo left). Vent chutes have # channel that pre- vents blown insulation from blocking Ute airflow from the soffit vents to the attic space. Plug the area under the vent with a chunk of fiberglass insula tion (photo left) to prevent insulation from filling the sofiit Create a clear path for airflow from soffit vents to roof vents by stapling vent chu between roat trusses. Prevent blown-in insulation from filing soffits by stuffing We recommend filling the stud spaces with friction-fit fiberglass batts, coveting the walls and ceiling with a 4-mil poly vapor retardes, and ‘blowing insulation (celhulaso insula tion is a good choice) into the attic after the celling drywall is installed. Start by insulating the walls. Buy unfaced Ra3 batts for 2x4 walls and unfaced R-19 batts for 2x6 walls ‘Match the width ofthe batt (15-1/4 in, or 23-1/4 in) to the stud space. Cut batts carefully for a tight fit, Ne ple 4-mil poly to the walls and ceil ng, Embed the poly sheeting in caulk around the porimeter of each piece to @ an alrtight seal. Seal the seams en sheets and seal the poly to electrical boxes with caulk or special sheathing tape (it's typically red and looks like packing tap After the drywall is installed on the ceiling, you can blow insulation fiberglass insulation Under the chutes, 26 IBEAOP2IEG PLASTIC BRICK LAYING GUIDES Also Available Brick Falging Without Lights Glamorize Your Yaril... One Product Does It All! ALIGNS BRICKS OR BLOCKS PERFECTLY : BLOCKS OUT ANY WEED GROWTH * SOLES ALLOW FOR COMPLETE DRAINAGE CREATE MANY MAINTENANCE FREE DESIGNS JUST SNAP TOGETHER AND PRESS IN GROUND NO MORTAR, NOTRENCHING, NO HAULING CURVE IT OR GO STRAIGHT 2 YEAR WARRANTY... IV PROTECTED PL sSTIC eCard re weld fr on conventince ree Card or wlan or er cen gee Corporation +9550 Pathway Sect * Sante, CA 9207 (619) 449-5080 * (S00) 449-3030 * Fa (619) 469-8302 Email: argeecorpasbeplobalnet Web: wien argeecorp.com Angee Corporation *9350 Paway Street * Santee, C4 92072 (519) 49-5050 » (300) 449-3030 ® Fa (519) 49-8392 Email: argecconpasbeplobe.net* Web: wveargeecorpcomtProtect walls from interior moisture end reduce air leaks with poly sheeting. Over- lap comers, being careful not to create a ridge” that would interfere with the drywall. Use only enough staples to hold the poly while you install the drywall, into the attic, Home centers and some rental stores sell blow-in-type insulation and often offer free or reduced rate rental on the blower you purchase insulation from them. Leaky doors and windows let in uncomfortable drafts and increase hheating and cooling costs, Check your garage service door to be sure it hhas good weather stripping and a threshold that seals tightly to the bottom of the door. In most cases, if your service door is missing a threshold and weather more efficient to re with a new, weathertight version. You can buy @ basic prehung metal exterior door for as little as $120 at home centers anc lumiberyards. overhead garage door can be a big source of drafts and heat loss. Recently installed doors usually include @ weather-stripped stop around the perimeter. But older doors may be lacking a weather strip. Luckily, i's an easy fix. Garage door weather stripping is availeble at home centers and hardwa stores, and installation is straightfor- ward (photo below). If your overhead door is uninsulated, search online for "garage door insulating kits.” Br Seal out drafts (anc bugs!) with garage oor weather stripping, Cut the strias to length and nail them into piace. Press the weather strip against the door as you nailit to create a tight sea, ‘eonter2008 27 CEL WEE UN Incredibly strong, tough and thick Gorilla Tape is made to stick to rough and uneven surfaces like wood, stone, stucco, plaster, brick and more. FOR THE TOUGHEST JOBS ON PLANET EARTH.© 1-800-966-3458 Made in USA.Finish up with drywall Drywall is the easiest and most eco- pomical covering for your garage ceil- ing, Use 5/8-in-thick drywall if your trusses or rafters are spaced 24 in. apart, We'll show you a few tips to simplify drywall installation, For iets of other drywall tips, from hanging to finishing, go to thefamilyhandy- ‘man.com and search for “drywall.” Before you install the drywall, temporarily remove the brackets that support the garage door tracks and opener. This will make it easier to install the 4-mil poly and ceiling drywall and will result in a neater- looking job. Start by carefully meas- uring and recording the position of the tracks and opener. Measure from the nearest wall and from the floor. Then close the garage door, lock it closed and unplug the opener to dis- able it. Unscrew or unbolt the brack- ets that support the garage door tracks and remove them. Also remove the garage door opener brackets and support the opener ona ladder. It may be easier to entirely disconnect the opener and set it aside. The photo below shows how to roinstall the garage door track brackets using a new section of angle iron on the ceiling. Attach each new ceiling angle iron with four 5/16- x Sein, log screws driven into the center of the ceiling joist or into woot blocking that’s screwed to the adjacent ceiling framing. The second tip that'll simplify the We want your ant your feedback! Help us improve The Family Handy- ‘man by sharing your opinion of this |_ and other articles. See p.2for details. eo i Save your back with a rented orywallih Just set the drywall on the lift, crank it Up, and jockey it inte position. Reattach the garage door tacks securely ‘with metal angle ron. Buy a short length for the celing, Then cut the sides to position the trackin ts original location. DIY Success Story I covered my garage walls with 5/8-n. OSB instead of drywall. It costs more ‘and doesn't look quite as good. But it looks fine with a few coats of paint, and | didn’t have to sand drywall mud (which | hate!). Better yet, can ‘mount pegboard, brackets or hooks ‘anywhere. No need to hunt for studs. Phil Burkard 2B septenow 1009 theramilyhandyman.comCreate your own custom storage system in one weekend You can dropalot of cash on garage about $200. t'il'be even cheaperit your specific garage and gear—you Co ee en eer ee ees oleae een een ny of those store-bought systems with-_cancomplete't ina weekend, You'l outthe big price tag, Qur materials find everything you need at home Oe ong ss dinciebsaddanhabttibeleimihcnashiabaied aa eee ee eee Rae nese er eoStart with struts | Jach of these storage accessories hangs from a simple framework of vertical struts, which are just 2x28 screwed to the garage wall studs. If you use struts, you can hang some: thing on the wall without hunting for studs, and you can screw shelf brack- ets and accessory hangers to the sides of them. OF course, if you have bare stud walls, you can skip the struts, We used 2x2s rather than 2x45 because they cost slightly less and have fewer knots. Just be sure you screw them in every 16 in. for extra strength. Most home centers sell 2x25 in B-f. lengths. | Shorten or lengthen the struts to suit your garage. If you go with | 6-footers like we did, you can use the leftover 2x2 scraps to build some | of the accessories described in this | article. It doesn’t matter if the struts are centered 16 in. or 24 in. apart Just make sure they're plumb by using @ level. ‘TAPE AUARKS: S100 cua T ‘Screw 2x2 struts to each wall stud. Snap a chalk line to align the tons of the struts and mark the stud tecations with ‘masking tape. Dill plot holes or use "self-crilting” screws to avoid splitting the struts, ‘thefamilyhandyman.com A saratikes adders wheebarons ad other ‘utter Find out row at thetamiyhary- rmancomstrageoltions. 34 Seotamnec02 the tamiiyhandyman.com Plumbing hooks are designed f0 support pipes, tut they make great storage hooks 100. We used them tohoid ladders, sports gear and wheelbarrows, You can easily cut them to length if space is tight. They're sized for pipe ranging from 1/2 in 0 4 in and cost 25¢ to 80t apiece. CCut basic slats in the top of the rack and test+it the tool ‘shape until the tool hangs securely. jeod trimmers and leaf blowers can slide around if you prop therm in a corner, and fall off the wall if you try to hang them from a hook Solve the problem with this custom storage rack, which uses 3/4-in. ply- wood for the brackets, top and back Cut two Bin, x 11-in. brackets to sup- port the top and back of the rack. Our rack 38 34 in, Jong and 12 in, deep— customize the dimensions to fit your yard tools. To determine the best shape for your slots, measure the diameter of your tools and cut basie slots in the top of the rack. Then play with the shape of your slats to get a snug fit. Contin on 9.38 Enlarge the slot or changeitetal shelf brackets seem pensive {less than $1 each), but the cost can add up quickly if you're installing several shelves. So why not make free brackets from ply- wood scraps? We created a simple, flexible and inexpensive shelving sys- tem using 3/4-in. plywood brackets screwed to the vertical framework. We used 3/4-in, plywood rather then 1/2:in, because it gives you a wider sur- face to screw into when attaching the shelves to the brackets, ‘saw or circular saw. That keeps time-consuming jigsaw cuts to a minimum. For shelves, we used 9/4-in. birch. plywood, but you could use 1x12s or melamine-coated particleboard, or you could edge-band the plywood for a more finished look. Screw a bracket at each strut to support the shelves. You can put shelving across the entire length of the wall or stack shorter ‘en-foot lengths of viny! gutter ($5 at home centers) screwed to the 2x2 framework are @ perfoct place to store long items like hockey sticks, fishing rods, dowels, wood trim and corner bead. Items itke these often end up, leaning against a wall or teking over an entire corner only to tumble aver or get, wrecked because they’re not really sup- posed to be stored on end. Shorter sections of vinyl guiter and sturdy window box liners ($7 to $10 at home and garden centers) attached the same way work well for storing hard- to-hang items like gloves, hose nozzles, fertilizer spikes and sprayers. And peo- ple who refuse to hang stuff back up on the wall can just toss it into the bin. If the gutter end caps don’t fit snugly, apply PVC cement, silicone or gutter adhesive and press firmly. Vinyl gutters are surprisingly sturdy you can even store a few sections of rebar and metal pipe in them without a problem. Metal gutter is also an option. It’s the same price, but it’s harder to cut and too flimsy for heavier items. shelves on top of each other (or do both, as we did), The 1-1/2-in-wide brackets are surprisingly strong and will easily hold 100 Ibs. or more. ‘thefamilyhandyman.com ‘Orgarie tosis and gardening gear Find outhow _atthefamiyhandyman com/erganizeparage Cut vinyl gutter sections to length with a miler saw. You can use a handsaw, but Yyou'l need to mark the cut carefully to get it square. thetamilynanaymas.cem Sasonmw 2009 3940 seooroes2008 thetamityhandyman.com 'ypical brackets for storing long- hhandled tools stack the tools one on top of another. This is definitely an effi cient use of wall space, but it's frustrat- ing to move ather tools out of the way to reach the one you're aftet. Or you end up devoting an entire well to hooks that hang individual items, Here's a better solution. Screw a pair of 3/4-in. plywood brackets to a chunk of scrap 2x2, Attach several 16d finish. nails to the side of each bracket and screw the bracket assembly to the 2x2 framework. Drill holes into each of your tool handles, and you can easily hang and retrieve individual rakes and shovels without using up a lot of well space. sis ‘countensax Dail oles in your fool handles. Then taper ‘theholes with a countersink bit so the tools wil sip easily oF. and off naiis. wee Sip the bracket oves the strut and screw itinto place. Be sure to drive nails into the brack- let's outside edge before you install. Leave ore’s @ slick way to get your wheelbarrow off the garage floor: To start, screw two plumbing hooks to the wall (we used 1-1/2-in, hooks). Tilt the wheelbarrow onto the hooks and up against the wall. Drill a pilot hole and then drive ina screw hook to hold the wheelbarrow upright. To release the wheelbarrow, just turn the hook “V2 in. of the nails exposed to hang tools. ‘thefamilyhandyman.com A sive your aarage or gorgeous enor paintiod Step ay steo striction at hetamiendy- rmanzomvsrognepoy.his sturdy ball corral holds a herd of balls and lets kids easily grab the balls at the bottom without unloading all the ones on top. It's built from 3/4-in. plywood and 2x28. We made cour ball corral 24 in. wide x 33 in. high x 12 in, deep The hooks on Bungee cords can be a safety hazard for kids and adults alike. So cut the hooks off the cords (or use elastic cord available at camping, sporting goods and hardware stores). Thread the cord through predrilled holes and secure with knots. Drill the holes slightly larger than the cords to make threading them easier. We added plumbing hooks and short gutter troughs on the outside of the cor- ral to make it easy for kids to stash smaller balls, helmets and mitts toring hoses and cords on thin hooks or nails can cause them to crack or lose their shape. Five-gallon buckets fitted with a scrap of 3/4-in plywood in the bottom and then screwed to the wall make great mul- tipurpose holders. The plywood can be any shape, but to give it ¢ more finished look, cut a circle slightly smaller than tho diameter of the bucket. For another hose and exten- sion cord hanger, see p. 86. ‘Mount the bucket by driving screws through plywood, Without plywood, the screws will pull through the bottom of the bucket, Help us improve The Family Handyman by sharing your opinion ofthis and other articles. See p.2 for details pecialty gear hooks and bat racks run $15 to $25 a pop. Vinyl-cov- ered utility hooks only cost $2, but they only hold single items. Each of these inexpensive sports gear hangers will hold several bats and racquets. Each set of hangers is made from a pair of lag screws covered with CPYC sleeves to protect the gear. Customize the hangers by spacing them closer or wider apart depending on what you want to hang, Qo Screwa scrap of 2x2 to the face of a vertical 2x2 to hold the hangers. Sip a 6-in. length of /2-in, CPVC or PVC pipe over an &-in.-long, 3/8-in--diameter lag screw. This CPVC sleeve will prevent the lags from scratching the sports gear. tnetamiynaneyman.com septamecz002 Alyou have an attached garage, the oor to the house is probably a dumping ground for shoes, sports gear, jackets and all kinds of other stuff that you don’t have space for indoors. These five cabinets can el nate that moss so you don’t have to walk through an obstacle course to get in the house. Bach cabinet is a simple box that has been customized to solve a different storage problem. Build one or all five, You can build, install and load these cabinets in a weekend. The only power tools you'll need are a drill and a circu- Jar saw. But a table saw and a sliding miter saw are handy for ripping and crosscutting the plywood, and a brad nailer helps tack the cabinets and draw- ors together before you drive the screws. Each cabinet requires one sheet of plywood or less and costs about $50, Including the hardware and finish. We used birch plywood (S40 per sheet). You could use oak plywood ($48) or even MDF (830). Fer the pantry cabinet, you'll need 1/4-in. plywood for the drawer bottoms. All the materials are available at home centers except the drawer slides for the pantry cabinet. | | We designed these cabinets with economy and speed in mind. Here are three tricks we Used to cut costs and ‘assembly time: Wie size all parts to use the plywood cefficienty. The sides, for example, are just under 12 in. wide (11-7/8 in), so youll get four froma 4 x 8-ft. sheet, ‘We eliminated the cabinet backs, ‘saving time and materials. ust be sure to handle the cabinets gentiy— | they/te abit flimsy untl they're screwed to the wall. We applied the finish before assem bly. after you cut the parts to size, sand everything with 20-aitsand- | paper and apply acoat of Minwax Wipe-On Poly ($9 per pint),These cabinets are surprisingly easy to build, The illustrations tell you most of what you need to know. Heze are some tips for smooth assembly: If you don’t have a table saw to rip the plywood, use a saw guide and a circu- lar sew (Photo). To learn how to build saw guide, visit thefamilyhandy- man.com and search for “saw guide,” of see our Oct. 08 issue, p. 86. Use a shorter saw guide ora sliding miter save to got straight, square crosscuts. Drill 1/8-in, pilot holes to prevent split- ting, Keep screws 1 in, from edges. If you have a brad nailer, tack parts together to make drilling easier. But don't rely on brads alone—you still need screws. If you don't have a brad nailer, use clamps (Phote2]. If your cuts were slightly off and the top, bottom and sides aren’t exactly the same width, don’, worry. Just make sure the front edges of the box are fnsh. Attach the screw strip to the top before attaching the side pieces. Attach hardware (drawer slides, shelf standards) to the sides before building the box. Screw the top, bottom and any fixed shelves onta one side before attaching the other side. Install @ 2x2 cleat on the wall for the cab- inets to sit on. You'll need 24 in. of cleat for each cabinet. Keep the cleat at least 8 in, above the floor so you can sweop under the cabinets Snap a level chalk line on the wall for tho cleat (measure down from the ceiling if your floor slopes!}. Attach the cleat at the chalk line by driving a 3-in. drywall screw into each stud. Set the cabinots on the cleats, Place @ level alongside the cab- inet to make sure it’s standing plumb and square, Then drill pilot holes through the scrow strips and attach the cabinets to the wall with 3.in. drywall screws (Photo 3). Screw adjoining cabinets together by driving 1-1/4-in. drywall screws through the side near the top and the bottom. Help usimprove The Family Handyman by lettingus know what you think of this and other articles. See p. 2 for detail L 44 sotenner2009. 0) Get perfectly straignt, accurate cuts with a circular saw using a homemade saw guide. Clamp the saw guide at your mark on the plywood, Clamp the frame parts together, including the screw strip. Dil pilot neies ‘and drive screws, Set the cabinets on accleat, then screw them to the wall at the studs (use tape to mark the stud locations), Drive screws through the cabinet Dottams Into the cieat.A compact organizer for all kinds of equipment The cabinet dividers let you store long- i handled sports gear, like hockey sticks, bats and rackets. The lip on the top shelf aa keeps balls from falling off. Nail the lip 1a TB 22-12" to the shelf before installing the shelf at any height that suits your needs. When installing the dividers, cut two. 7-in. spacers and place them between A the cabinet sides and the dividers to , | keep the dividers straight as you install 1 | | ee screwstar | AND SHU u Bia naa I, the cabinet face. Measure diegonaly from box comer A I to corner to make sure the cabinet is nl 155 square before attaching the face. Set the paul ‘sone i it face on the cabinet, leaving a 1/8-in. | | | reveal along both sides and the bottom. Drill pilot holes and screw the face to the sides and the dividers. Face aya 20318 12390 ne P thefamiimmanayman.cem siptariasoos 45. All cabinets are 1-1/8" deep x24" wide x72" tall, JOPAND BOTTOM When you ar seal and insulate your home, you can save up to 20% on your heating and cooling costs’ And nothing's better at ‘iting gaps and cracks than GREAT STUFF™ Insulating Foam Sealant. See the ful line of products at www dowGREATSTUFF com, ‘Anairy hangout for damp ar dirty coats and boots ‘The wire shelves in this cabinet allow boots to drip dry and air to circulate freely so clothes will dry. The extra-wide screw strip lets you attach coat hooks. To build | the cabinet, you'll need 6 ft. of 12-in.-deop wire shelving ($6) and coat hooks (starting at $2.60 each) Attach the back cleats fhush with the sides, Inset the front cleats 1/4 in, Cut the se wire shelves at 22-1/4 in. This gives you |f wee iere V8 in. of play on each side. Cut the shelves with bolt cutters or have the home | ! center cut them for you. The metal in the sholves is very tough and hard to cut with a hacksaw. Place plastic end caps ($1.30 for a pack of 14) over the shelf ends. Secure the shelves to the front cleats with C-clamps ($5.70 for a pack of 20), Fasten two clamsps per shelf. Hold the coat hooks in place in the cabinet, drill pilot holes and then drive the screws that came with the hooks to fas- ten them in place Bie ee | Eliminate the footwear = Cummins cemnnns pileup on the back steps The lower shelves in this cabinet hold | boats and shoes, while the cubbyholes at the top are for slippers and sandals. The | screw strip is lower in this cabinet than it is in the rest, but it'll still hold the cabinet in place. Install the lower shelf first. then add the divider and screw on the shelves that fit aes between the divider and the cabinet sides. went Build the cubbyholes on your work sur- | ees re face, then stick the assembled cubbies into TE the cabinet. Start by screwing two ae eee dividers onto a shelf. Make two shelves — i this way. Then install a center divider al my between these two shelves. Add a shelf to J the bottom, over the two dividers. Then YO =e insert the cubbies inside the cabinet and — screw through the sides into the shelves “a and through the top into the dividers. ower (i ee | ae J Af sayaratesbe ener fateonton ae at thefaryhandyma consi. we “i “Tor sorrom ano steve Travia zeeSpacious, adjustable shelves that cut garage clutter This open-sholf cabinet needs 2 fixed shelf in the middle to keep the sides from —_—— bowing, but you can make the rest of the shelves adjustable. Install as many owen adjustable shelves as you want—this cab- inet can hold a lot of stuff? You'll need four 6-ft. shelf stindards ($3.30) for this cabinet. Get started by smarking the shelf standard locations and the fixed middle shelf location on the two cabinet sides. Cut tie shelf stan- datds to length with « hacksaw, then screw them tothe sides above and below the fixed shelf marks Install the adjustable shelves after you : : song the cabineron the wl i) j } aowsraate shee thefamilyhandyman.com celal ‘Bulla masular workbench in your garage. Goto K theatynandymancom/workoench ae [OSS neon thetamitynanaymancom septernerooa 47 ete chipped, broken orc Patcher bonds t i. Foree Bulk storage that frees up kitchen space If you buy groceries in bulk, this is the anizeyou gragenone morning storage Solution for you. The bottom draw. wnasiae BY walt Se ers in this cabinet are deep enough to hold storagevall. two cases of soda, The top drawers are per fect for canned goods or bottled water. The upper shelves are adjustable for more bulk storage. The cabinet faces and door keep everything enclosed Inexpensive drawer slides let the draw- fers open and close easily. Ours are from Woodworker's Hardware (83.65 per set of two, including screws; No. B230M 12GM; wwhardware.com). You'll also need %¥0 carat your garage ot ty tring 6-ft, shelf standards ($3.30 for 6 ft.) thecigiastoapsgn athe Lay the cabinet sides next to each other ate man. and mark the center for each drawor slide. — Place a slide over each mark, drill pilot holes (we recommend a $7 self-centering drill bit for this) and screw the slides into place. Cut the shelf standards with a hack- saw and screw them to the cabinet sides, above the fixed shelf Assemble the drawers with 1-5/8-in sorews, Place the drawer slides on the drawers, drill pilot holes and attach them ‘e efit them in Insta wide wooden-hlvsin your th screws. Test-fit them in the cal ee ee vornanonr net. Ifthe cabinet sides are bowed even wideshelng, slighily (like ours were), attach a 2-in, rail in the back to hold the sides in place so the drawers slide smoothly. Fasten the faces to the drawers with 1-/4-in, screws driven from inside the drawers. Build the handles with leftover plywood end attach them with 2+in. screws {driven from the inside), Attach the door to the cabinet with yaar aage cae soca 1/2-in. overlay hinges. also called —nattemoonettetamiynandy half-wrap hinges ($1.50 each). They're _mancom/sypercabines available at home centers or wwhard- ware.com (No, A07850). 1 DDRaWeR ives an egies jonawen sack ano Front 2 =~ WAROLE CLEAT saat We a ey ae aS | SS? i 2 Browse through our entire qu HaNOLE collection of garage articles at eden ye TE 2 SUD m~ thefamityhandyman.com. ust Donawen sorton pawen race : — EME aie saenatatatenir vanes: tYBe “garage” into the search = “favo BorTOM ‘migdLE DRAWER 3.74" ‘box atthe top of our home page. ae Ee ‘sorTom WO DRAWERS 78" AB seownoo'2000 thefamilynandyman.com‘This sturdy 30-in. x 6-ft.-long workbench is the ultimate in simplicity. it's made from only fifteen 8-ft--long 2x4s and one sheet of 1/2-in plywood. Follow the cutting diagrams to cut the parts: Figure to cut the plywood tops, then Figure to cut al the framing, Use the lengths provided in tne Cutting List. You can either screw the framing, together with 3-in, screws or hand- or power-nail it together with 3-in.nalls. ‘Screw the plywood down with 1-5/8-in. ‘To make these project plans even easier to follow, we tinted the pé that get added at each step. Good ligntis Dn mandatory for ayo bench. Buya 4-ft. shop light for under ‘$15 and screw it right to the under- side of the top shelt. Forget extension cords. Mount a power strip to one of the legs and youlllhave all the power you need for tots and chargers. Use Its switch to control the light. Whether you cover the whole back oust the lower htt heen down the bench cutter Aa ystowngallot A! those tools you use everyday within easy reach Yes, itll cost as much as or more than the bench, but ‘what work- ‘bench would bbe complete ‘without one? Main workbench parts n A —_— FE carone DOO D=Z2AD=7) RPMI es hea gel La Ne) eee eet et eka av = a = ={P _ Beable to bathe safely, without worry Independence and security are only a phone call away. |__ Ifyou strugale taking your bath, talk to us at Premier | $5") about our extensive range of walk-in baths. + Enjoy a relaxing bath again, without the fear of slipping or falling, + The walk-in doot feature allows easy access and exiting IBS «© Hrrtrotheram jets soothe away your aches and pains. (of Yes Please send me a FREE COLOR BROCHURE about Premier Walk-In Baths, Name. Telephone Address City State Zip B sess rere Buco 239 Sh Noa. ane os 219 Pa 00S Contry | Siranstormyour mm bathroom and transform your life” Karen Grassle )— by Elisa Bernick Se estorse@itnefemiyhandiman.com malt PROJECT reise eny 06 é prevent your rovjeting bins fom g hoghng preclous Rot ep OF ting Viched around the gage Bang them ~. onthewal. ee For a standard 204n-long bin, ll you need isan 3@-in-long 2x at he bottom af the coum of ins, ond th and a 2edboth 18 in long fr the top lip ofeach bin. Level and ere he Betton. 2et cleat to studs wherever Sem wvant the conn to sar Then Serow the top leat pieces logather with 1-5/8-in. screws (Photo). Use the bin asa spacer to positon the top clot for each bin. Draw a line to mark the top of the cleat (Photo1) and then crew it to the all with-in Screws. (hote2) Repeat the proves for each bin, hang ‘ Yr. them on the wall Bisa tien, yotoan =— pivitas ee | sacle ‘Assemble the top cleats and use a bin to mark their postions. raw a line to mark the top of the cleat. Keep the pencil flush with the cleat to add an extra 1/4 in, or $0 to the height, That will) Position the cleat on the line and screw it to studs with 3-ie make ft easies to get the bin in and out. ‘screws. I's much easier if you predtil all the screw holes, 60 sepisnte2008 thetamitynandyman.com - PFLUBER - Protoyanhy TOW st DretonbMount the unit heater ina comer and aim itata 45-degree angle toward the garage door, Point the [ou- vvers down. Locate the thermostat away from the airflow. by Rick Muscopiat editors@thefamilyhandymancom QUESTION 1d like to heat my garage so I can work on projects in the winter. But don't know what ‘type of heater Is best or what size to get. Can you give me advice? Rod Serres, Jamestown, ND ‘We recommend a ceiling-mounted, gas- fired, forced-air unit heater. Some installers recommend infrared heaters because they heat objects instead of ai You'll be warmed and so will the floor (if its free of vebicles). But you won't ‘he happy with the cold tools inside your tool chest. Infrared heaters are no 62 siphenbe2009 em more energy efficient then forced-air heaters, and they cost about twice as much. ‘The least expensive alternative is a portable kerosene or propane heater. But they're a poor choice. They require ventilation (think “open door”) and pump gallons of water vapor into your karage. That moans working with a ‘constant cold draft and putting up with smelly exhaust and burning eyes. Then there's the issue of rust on your tools from all that humidity, Kerosene and propane heaters just aren’t a good solu- tion if you work in the garage regularly. So bite the bullet and buy a ceiling- mounted, forced-air unit heater that’s rated for residential uso (building ‘inspectors won't OK an industrial unit in a residential garage). Plan to spend $500 to $650, plus the cost of profes: sional installation. Advanced DIYers can install @ unit heater, which involves gas lines, venting and electri- cal work, But don't skip the permits and inspections. An improper installa- tion can Kill you. Check with the inspector to see ifit's even legal in your area to perform your own gas hookups. If you'll be working on wood projects cor using spray finishes, choose a heater with @ separate combustion chamber. They bum fresh outside air instead of the dust or paintladen air inside garago. AtDicton BOBUNGAR- Pepa TOM FENENGA. een whee rd Mstaton JOAN HARTMAN Conte CHARLE AVOLES. MASTER PLUMBERThore’s @ slight fire danger using @ conventional heater, and the dust and paint particles witi cause burner prob: Jems that requize service calls, Some unit heaters are more com: pact than others and can be mounted within 1 in, of the ceiling, So review the dimensions of the heater and cal culate the installed height to ensure proper headroom. To help size the heater and esti- mate monthly energy costs, consult modine.com/hotdawg and ultimate- garageheater.com. Most residential garages require heaters with a capac- ity of 30,000 or 45,000 Btu. Your heater size depends on the garage’s square footage, ceiling height and insulation, so don’t guess, And don’t oversize your heater—especially if you intend to leave it on [even at @ reduced temperature) all winter. An oversize unit heater cycles too often and wastes energy. If you have an attached garage, mount the thermostat on the com- ‘mon wall between the garage and the house and away from the heated air- flow. In a detached garage, mount it on the wall below the heater. COMMENT We know times are tough. But before Dec. 31,2010, might be the best time to make energy-saving home improve- ‘ments and use these tax credits to off- set the cost. Get a 30 percent federal tax credit up to $1,500 (combined total per household) on the purchase of these energy-ufficient improvements Windows, storm windows, storm doors and exterior doors; Energy Star= rated shingles and metal roofs tha made with special reflective coating: insulation: furnace and A/C systems: water heaters; geothermal and solar energy systems; residential wind tur bines and fuel cells; and hybrid cars, The tax credit applies only to the cost of the materials and does not include Installation labor. All eligible equipment and materiais must meet certain energy-saving :iteria. 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Box 662, Fort Mil, 29715. 627-927QUESTION | have young children and am worded that one of them might get scalded in the shower Icar'trip out the tle and installa new temperatwe-regulating faucet Is there any other way to tame | thenot water? | ‘Andy Serving, Havertown, PA lu ‘your home is plumbed with copper pipe, you can install a mixing valve | right at the water heater and set the | maxiraum temperature to 104 degrees F You may still get sore temperature variations due to fast changes in water pressure (such as from a toilet or a washing machine), but there wi be no chance of scalding, But before you break into any pipes or buy a water heater mixing valve, ask your local building inspec- j tor if your code requires “point-of- use” tempering valves at each faucet. | Atabout $100 each, these valves may bbe cheaper than installing tempera ture-regulating faucets. bool thefamilyhandyman.com Seeniioaad Lear hon toreplace a water heate’ by . ) ‘sing to thefarlyhandyman coms “natemeater ‘Cut the copper pipes at your water heater and reroute them through a mixing valve. Install a temperature gauge in a tee fitting near the valve to set the output temperature. We used the Watts MMV-US mixing valve ($120) and the Soshart thermometer, No. TW25-C82-250-25 , $14, which are available at pexsuppiyicom (888-757-4774). Install a "point-of- use" tempering valve below the sink. (We used the Watts USG-B MI; $92 ‘rom plumbersurplus.com; 951-588-0385.) Shut off the supply valves and dis connect the existing supply tubes. Add the tempering valve and two new supply ‘tubes. Then turn on the hot water and acjust the tem- TeMPersrunE pering valve to obtain 104 ‘ouustient ‘egrees Forless. 64 septemoerca? th