ee TOOLS we can‘t live without! THE FAMILY #1in DIY Home =r handyman id tf Ve bas Ch lovt, < nine fe a aa! oan > oleae ami yd eye tt rollouts ROCK! t Build our anti- eli lf PN 2) a Ws Ee DiYer fashion? BOB koe CB ia Great boots, knee pads, work gloves, even skivvies!TABLE OF CONTENTS {JUNEOIO VOLUME 80, NO. 6, SOStHEDITION Features 30 Kitchen rollouts Build ‘em or buy ‘em—they’re the ultimate storage solution. 40 Hanging bookcase Designer style at a DIY price— and incredibly easy to build. 48 Outdoor tools we love ‘Some of our longtime favorites for the lawn and garden, 52 Well-dressed handyman For us, fashion means comfort safety and durability, but most Of this stuff looks good, too! 60 Fiberglass face-lift Whether it’s a boat, a pickup topper or a snowmobile, you can make it look like new. 68 Handy Hints® for pet lovers Hiow to keop ants out of the dog's dish, the dog out of the cat's dish-and more great tips Departments aN 8 TheStuff We Love © We pick the best in DIY of 2010—and oscillating tools are the very coolest. 16. Home Care Lawn mower fix, bath fan upgrade, childproof outlets. 22 Tools & Skills Marking and cutting curves with a router trammel 2 seei0i0 thatamilyhandyman.com % 82 94 Question & Comment 96 Building a dog kennel, using hole saws, and filling cracks in concrete 107 Car & Garage Replace a car antenna, fix a dim headlight ond much more. 49g, Reader Projects Dlvers sharing their skills, Know-how and tools Shop Rat Quick, perfect circles and easy-off sanding sleeves Wordless Workshop™ Clever plant markers that stay planted. Great Goofs” And (drum roll, please) the No. 1 thing never to ty at home: licking @ live electrical cord,TABLE OF —— ter Pint. ME CONTENTS oe et young In “the most fesciating place on Eth (hs ged fathers woushep) Sing then he aaa fe standard | DW astern coe to alumbng He also tas sta niche eet, ie eran These dye Da tes Ns ne Between sfvaredesen andteserng ns Teer ashome. Become a Feld Editor! yer aay eon Sted Woon smears NEW Website! = === gthefamilyhandyman.com . suger Hundreds of DIV projects & fixes Storage, garage, raveesugmneemaporaymancan kitchen, bath & more! Reomaeetinraranion = Sx Fay trdrn Shean Oe Sone aan S52 Free Newsletter on Pasa ama et DIY tips & hints ‘chenaerntnanyavaesurating ie ‘ane tenpetepstiyeruarisenh a ‘SBinacens wea oy eames ees Great search tool wnat Find projects by topic, Tet pian yu gam ome See time, skili orcost ann asta sear =e | Sieceenaee DIY community | secuanat ema ratregsane yous. ‘Share your ideas with irsrnson ek other Divers ‘Save articles to your Project binder Read thenew DIY advice blog Customer information aa et ase amt shut teowmnancsbiecenunteoeyran sit pateret Rese? geting Ut ‘ru ore tegdat is (600) 295-96 am ato Ee eo agees Register on the site and receivea S80 soem Bat oer free plan for a traditional bookcase Irecer ico eda SH as ourthank-you gift. Chedwanenate: avsnersrcon, Comments and suggestions We ioe your arson. iene ® ‘Soyran 3Gnme ncstiooetea Ema ecxontomiy fonomancen 4 srezeid_ thetamityhansyman.com— ‘io purchase survey completion necessary to win, pen to residents age 18 and over Sweensalastnds or '06/20/0, Void where prohibited For ent detalis andl es, vik www tnpcwerhousacomsoles. ome res Haiidyman Wile DIV Home improvement since 1951ap Ike WE LOVE Tools & Gear, DIY and Beyond The best in DIY 2010 What are the best things in this DIY life we lead? Well, the list is way too long for one issue, but here are a dozen or so of our favorites—some new, some Classic, some universal, some intensely personal. You've probably got your favorites, too, so tell us about them! VEL EEE tile ‘There's been an explosion in the number of oscillating. » BEST PATENT EXPIRATION EVER toals appearing on tool shelves over the past yoat. The . . patent for the fool, held by Fein, has expired, So a Osci lat i ng tool bunch of tool companies jumped on the opportunity. Tike a chicken on # erickel and came up with their own versions. An oscillating tool is that rare kind of explosion tool that you didn't know you needed unl you had one. And nov anyone can afford to pop for ono— the new versions cost as litle as $40, compared with $310 and up for Fein versions. The tool operates very simply. The business end vibrates back and forth Tike crazy. That's it, But attach Py ire bude He y sanders, scrapers, rasps ‘nd even shears, and these things can accomplish all types of diferent tasks, From top to bottom: ‘Chicago's Multifunction Power Tool. $40, harbortelghtcom Dremel's Mult-Max. $100. dremelcom Ridgid’s Muttl-tool. $200 (sold as part ofthe Jabmax combo kit). ids corn Bosch’s Multl-X, S180, boschtealscom ‘raftsman’s Nextec Multi-Tool. $100 crattsmancom Rockwell's Sonicrafter. $120 (20-plece version} ockveltoolscom Fein's MultiMaster. $310 (FN4 2500 Select version). feinuscom 1B scezolo tmetamilynaneyman.comWe Ml el Z 7» BEST O1Y SOFTWARE SketchUp Next time you want to draw up a project plan, skip the napkin, Use ‘a computer to dial in the design so you'll know what it's going to look like. You'll also have @ picture of how it goes together and the exact dimensions, so you can catch mistakes. You don't need to be computer geek to pull it off, either. The SketchUp CAD (computer assisted design) system is the way to go. Why? Simple—the basic version is free, the program is easy to learn and it’s super useful You're limited only by your imagination. There are so many great features that we can’t cover them here. We recommend you go to skotchup.google.com, download the free version and try it ont. For help getting started, go to sketchucation.com and check out the tutorials. You'll soon discover that SketchUp is more than @ program; it’s a community. Connecting wate tines wth a push iting fees tke cheating, You lust push the copper, CPVC or PEX into LM 1E READING Grizzly tool catalog ‘Some auys look forward to the Soortslestated ‘wins sue, but gt ry thls paging through the Griz Industral catalog—plossy photos of sorgeous woodworking mactines (Sore with cover plates rernoved, eo leaving very ite tothe imagination). The hot model tm cumentty sting aftr isthe tall, slendec Ulta tin. band saw (60555). Just $450! That's ypical of Giza industiat-grade equipment a superiow, dect-to-consumer pices (don't forget toads shinning ‘ost, though). Gizly couples high-value tools with Gee customer service, What mare could you want? The catalog also featues smaller {oois. metalworking eauipment and hardware, Request tat giztycom or skip the catalog and gawic at the tools online ‘ary Wentz corizzt¥ TOOL J No tools, no flames, no fumes, no sls. The only dificult ten is silencing the nagaing vole in your head that say: “That was too easy I's goog ta leak” Rest assured that pushin tings have earned 2 thumbs-up from plumbing watchdog organizations tke |AMPO, UPC and IPC. Most home conters stock a wide range of types and siaes costing $5 to $12 apiece, (Ouch!) ‘ 10 x20 metamtiynaneymancomSheetsof Biwood one $3), mounts ofeampng End-of-day ~ sear the nex first sip of wine My favonte moment ve been busting my but al day MO yyy puting uo cra. faring ence MMMM WH Rencamoresrge tie Treworkoyis Srettseuterave YOO The minivan as truck toosaemtavay! AN walk hunched over iato the Kitchen 1k was a sad day for me when I sold my pickup truck and bought a minivan. and pour myself a gla wine and ‘You know the story: second kid on the way, too hard to get the car seat into wander back to thelob ste. nd the truck, yeda vada. I couldn't imagine life without a truck. Boy, was T Uoend an eroty cya al and take load off. big sio and a big si. | think little about what dis today. And what happens tomorrow, sa Gericke ‘wrong. My kids have left home, I'm on my second van (a 2004 Toyota Sienna), and I wouldn't trade it for anything. I can take the seats out and load it up with plywood, 10-f1. lumber and all sorts of tools, then close the door. Everything's secure, out of the rain and easy to get al. The next day, in go the seats and 1 can haul eight people. When V'm ready to get out of town, I can carry two canoes on the roof rack, four people, two dogs and a mountain of camping gear. Ladmit minivans score zero for yyle. But for practicality, I love ‘em. Kea Coler EST FRIEND TO H. High-tech work gloves "owe my nigh-tech work gloves and rere’ why. They're tough ike leather gloves anc fit tight te surgeons’ goves. That means your fingers stay rimble enough to handle nais and screws. Try dong that wath ary other lowes. Mechanix Wear and lonclad are two brands avaliable. You Can find bath online or at home centers ard hardware stores. Choose ors dozens of styles and vanities depending on what kind of work you do. ices range trom $15 ‘to mave than $30, Yes, thay cast a 126 mare than those fury yellow or thin brown ‘ones. But they asta whole ot longer. and yout be a whole lot ore comfortable, Best of all. on Monday morning. those keyboarding hands of yours wont ook ike you spent the weekend shelling oysters Laer Roepe /ANDS REAL DIY LIFE was upin the rerth woods with a buddy. hand-igsing holes for fotings to bald 2 ‘aun, We were mixing concrete, making forrs anc having buc- ets of water The ground was murky. cocky and rote, but ry Mechanix Wear gloves took 0c care of my clas. E50 Cally when it came to wrestling ut a boulder the size of a coffe table, Laer Roepe AZ nn2030 theramilynaneyman.comssescost sas iano poutine: $520) sing SAAD NAILER "ow cost 30 /y BEST DEAL IN TOOLS Zi | Affordable trim guns Its no secret that pro-grade tools have gotten cheaper and better in the last 20 years. But one of the best values is in the tim gun arena. T paid $265 for this Senco brad nailer (topphote) in '85, and it only shoots 18-gauge brads from 5/8 to 1 in. But my new Senco shoots brads from 5/8 to 2-1/6 in. and only costs $130. Versions are available from all air nailer companies, including Ridgid Crafisman, Porter-Cable, Bostitch and Campbell Havs- fed. {you are a very “part-time” trim guy, you can piu your brains out for under $45. Still thinking sbout renting—or even borrowing? Aze you crazy? » BEST “FINALLY GETTING it RionT™ Low-flow toilets that work Tae ist generation of low-flow tallets sucked rather. they didnt. Frftoen yeas later, some of tese oles actually work. The best models use gravy or pressute-2ssisted technology to help move things along. Design changes include aigertrapways and flush valves. Fora great discus: | Sion and comaarson, check out toletolegycom and terryoveconrolt chetamitynanayman-cam ureze 3 NO RESIDUE No Residue Duct Tape. To find out where to buy, go to ScotchToughTape.com79 OVERY-WEEKEND POWER TOOL Compact lithium-ion cordless drills Midsize drills powered by lithium-ion batteries have hit a real sweet spot for DiYers: They're powerful enough to use for driving 3-in. screws and small enough to fit, in a tool belt or even your back pocket. The one shown is a Bosch PS20-2A 12-volt model, Different ones are available from Ridgid, Ryobi, Milwaukee, Craftsman and others in 10.8- or 12-volt packages, ranging from $50 to $150. We prefer models that have two speeds, an LED light and compact batteries that slide in the handle (like the one shown). These are sweet, sweet tools Yj Yi YY) THE-MASSES GARAGE 1UUL Car diagnostic tools ‘You used to have to pay big bucks to have a garage check the computer codes to figure out what was wrong, Now you can have your own code reader for less than those guys charge for one trouble- shooting session. The CarMD code reador (photo lett; $99 from carmd.com) earns its keep. Just hook it up to your car's OBDN port aod later to yous compute. —_ 3 ‘The reader will upload ie code g information to CarMD's database, There you'll He went get advice from professional mechanics on the ‘» BRILLIANT WATER/ENERGY SAVER tot likely cause of your problem, T like doing my own diagnostics, s0 {use the One hot showerhead An ee Sen ee ea heen Tate aft fon showered able amazon.com). It works on Ford, GM. Chrysler ad sae of them actualy have enough comoh te and Toyota vehicles and reads generic and 3 ‘et the shampoo out of your halt. The new Road enhanced OBDII wouble codes. Buti also Lume showered tom ve ($40 coe) Aieplays live dts right from the computer, So 1 ; ews ta aro Orie ate ea can see sensor values without popping the hood now the water shot When you're eo, st tho or breaking out the test equipment With live dete, ee ren ee te you can find out right way whother the sensor fs bad ort being tonal ae orig ste tricked by something like « vacaum leak eke teohashoweterdecon 14 iner09 thalTl Swiss Army “Tinker” Ihave a multi-tool that 1 love, and a gorgeous supersharp folding knife. They go camping and fishing with me. But the knife that stays in my pocket every other Gay of the year is the classic Swiss Army Tinker (one swissknifeshop.com). It costs $20, so losing it isn’t trevmatic: it’s light and compact; and I find myself using the Phillips-head screwdriver about a thousand times every weekend. It’s not perfect (I wish the knife would take a sharper edge), but it's “the ono that gets used” in my DIY life. Ken coller The best DIY compliment — is one from a pro Aer four years of hard work, we finally finished our 41,200-sq-0l addition. At our housewarming party, All Benson, a pro house painter known for his “honest” criticism, was walking around instead of making small talk. T could tell he was looking for nail pops, sloppy cut-in work, roller marks and paint drips. 1 got ready for an earful, but instead he pronounced our job flawless. 1 felt like I'd ‘won the lottery. Fla Boric WHAT'S YOUR VOTE ¢ for the best things in your DIY life? Write to us at editors@thefamilyhandyman.com. We'll pay you $100 if we publish it. thetamiiynensymancem ire200 15) ROTO Transparent Duct Tape. To find out where to buy, go to ScotchToughTape.com‘heck out ow | NEW Wied ser Broken starter rope You tug one last time to get the lawn mower started, and suddenly the rope breaks and the end goes spinning into the hole. Don’t blow a gasket. If you have even a tinge of mechanical apti tude, replacing a starter rope is pretty easy. If the spring breaks—a rare event, according to our repair expert—the lot harder, and we recommend you take the mower to a repair center. 16 The first step is to remove the rewind assembly from the lawn mower, and how you do this varies. I's usually held on by three or more screws. Remove the screws and lift off the rewind (Photo). Some mowers have a shroud covering the tap of the mower. Gn these you'll have to search for and remove the screws that hold the shroud in place. If your rewind unit is held on by Jeff Gorton ‘editors @ thefarityhandyman.com ‘ns Itan MAPCIA ROEPKE by rivets instead of screws, seo “No Screws?" on p. 18 ‘fier you remove the rewind unit, fip it aver and look inside to find the knot tod end of the broken rope. Grab it with @ noedle-nose pliers and pull it out You'll thread the new rope through this hole. You'll find replacement starter ropes at home centors, hardware stores and small-ongine repaie centers[IREMOVE THE REWIND UNIT Pemove the screws that hold the rewind to the engine and lift it off, Use a nut diver to vemave hex head screws. EXTIE A KNOT Tie a knot In the end of the rope. Let the pulley wind the rope back Into the rewind. Reinstall the rewind unitand any other parts you've removed. Boforo you install the new rope, yeu. have to rewind the spring by twisting the rope pulley in the same direction it goes when you pull on the rope. You'll know when you're turning the pulley in the right direction because it will get harder to turn. Keep turning the pulley until you fel zesist- ance and it won't turn easily. Then let it unwind about one- half to one revolution until the hole in the pulley lines up with the hole in the rewind housing, Wedge a screwdriver against the pulley to keep the spring fromm unwinding while you thread the rope through the holes (Photo 2). Tip: With leather gloves on, melt the end of the rope with a match. While the plastic is hot, give it a quick twist (o create a pointed end so it's easier to thread in. Push the end of the rope through botl holes and tie 9 knot (Photo 3). Heat the knot a little bit with a match and pull it tight to keep it from coming undone. Remove the screw river while you keep pressure on the pulley with your Fin 1B ne200 inetamtlynandymanicom EAREPLACE THE ROPE First, remove the broken piece of rope by unwinding it, grabbing the knot and pulling taut. Then rewind the spring and hold iin place with a screwdriver No screws? Rivets hold his rewind uni tothe meta shoud. To access the rind unit remove the bolts that hold te shoud to the ensine the vets are loose, il them out and replace them with bolts snd locknuts ser, and gradually let the rope wind onto the wheel. You may have extra rope ta cut off after everything's back together. Mount the rewind tnit and reinstall any shrouding ar other to remove, Put the handle on the rope and tie 2 little tension on the rope when you release the handle. If the rope on your lawn mower extends up the handle, make sure to place the rope handle in its final position hefare tensioning the rope slight- ly and tying the knotUpgrade your bath fan If your both fan is noisy or just doesn’t seem to move ‘enough air, thero's an easy fix that doesn't require any new wiring, venting or cefling patching. Nutone's No. 690NT. Bath Fan Upgrade Kit ($30 to $40 at hame centers or online) fits saveral models of Nutone, Broan and Nautilus Sas. You'l find the model number of your fan stamped on the metal plate that the fan motor is attached to. To see if your fan can be upgraded, go to nutone,com and type “690NT” into the search box. The Web page lists model numbers and Shaws photos of the compatible fans. Photos 3 and 4 show how to install the replacement parts. The kit comes with complete instrnctions, the new fan and an attractive white srille, REMOVE THE COVER Grab the edge of the covar and put! down. Squeeze the springs to release them from the slots and remove the cover. By ATTACH THE NEW FAN TO THE PLATE Match one of the new mounting plates to the style of your oid plate, and attach the new fan to the plate with the screws provided. 20 mityhandyman.com ‘TAKE OUT THE OLD FAN Make sure the wall switch for the fan is tumed off. Either remove the screw that holds the fan in place or push out en the metal fan housing to release the tab holding the fan. Then simply pull the fan down and unplug it [MOUNT THE NEW FAN install the new fan either hooking the tabs or reinstalling the Screve Plug in the fan and install the new cover.Childproof your outlets for good According to a 10-year report released by the The price of tampor-resistant outlets has USS. Consumer Product dropped to about a buck apiece, now that Safety Commission, they're required by electrical code and manu- approximately 2.400 chil- facturers have ramped up production. Replace dren receive emergency the outlets in the rooms your kids use the mast room treatmant every and get rid of those pusky plastic outlet plugs, year for injuries caused by inserting objects into electrical outlets, which are inconvenient to use, easily lost and choking hazard. The new tamper-resistant out lots look Just like regular outlets but have an interior cover that will open oaly when the two. STANDARD rawpenaesistayr prongs of a plug ave inserted. simultaneously. omen um ‘This prevents children from sticking something into one of the slots and getting burned or elec trocuted. Replacing an ovtlet is stmple, Start by tur- ing off the circuit breaker or removing the Fuso that controls the oullot at the main service panel. Then, aftr checking to make sure there’ to pater to thelbutlet, carifully unecteie the Ter Ron SARETY outlet and replace it with a tamperresistant ver. Tom off tre power athe maln electrical sion. For details on how to install an outlet, go Peet bebe hepriiedop mon to thefemilyhandyman.cam and type “electrical {he onsontact vetage detector agin outlet” into the search box. | power is off before ramaving the old cutlet. tnatamitsnendymen.com hre2010 21 Wamiocrert ; ae ~~ 3 A et < “CERES heseeai pam ee RedCheck outour NEW Wed sitet by Jeff Gorton editors@thefamyhandyman.com Marking and cutting curves whi ether you're building a frame for an ed opening, making curved brack- 1s or fashioning arch-top casing, mark- ing and cutting curves is part of the process. In this story, we'll show you several techniques and tips for mark- ing, cutting and fine-tuning curves. Some methods are bost suited for rough curves. Others ate refined enough for furniture making, Choose the tech 22 nnezme thetamitysengyman.com nique that works best for the project at hand. Cut precise curves with a router trammel This simple router trammel is easy to build and allows you to cut a perfect circle. For circles up to 6 ft. across, use a piece of 1/4-in. plywood, MDF or hardboard that's about 4 ft, long and at least as wide as your router base. Start by removing the base plate from your router and clamping it to one end of the tammel material. If you want your trammel to be stylish, vace around a coffee cup to make a nice-looking rounded end. Then draw tangent lines connecting the circles and cut the sides, If you don’t eaxe about looks, simply make @ Jong rectangular rammel secs MCA ROEPAE-Ptagahy TOM FENENGA.Trace around the base plate and use the mounting holes as a guide for drilling holes ia the tramimel (Photo), Cut out the trammel and drill 1-1/2-in. hole in the center of the router end to clear the router bit. Countersink the mounting screw | holes so the screw heads won't tear up your workpiece. ‘Attach the router ta the trammel with the base plate screws. Screw the trammel to the workpiece, centering it on the cicle you want to cut out. Mount a straight plunge-cutting bit in your router and set dhe router bit to cut about 3/8 in doop for the fiest pass. A plunge router works best, but if vou doo't have one, hold the router above the wood and start it. Carefully plunge it into the wood and begin moving | ciscle it counterclockwise around the circle. Complete 1 then readjust the dapth and make another pass unt cut all the way through. i Lay our He TRAMMEL | Ban ine sides and end ofthe rammel Tice around the base plate and ait les for the mourn ere ROUT A PERFECT CIRCLE \ Screw the trammel to the center of your warkplece and cut out the circle with your router, Make (we or thrae passes ina counter- clockwise direction. 2A rne20.0 ee Plastic wood template Often you can simply “eyeball” the bost curve forthe job by bending a piece of wood and using it as a template. But variations in wood grain can result in inconsistent curves Here's a tip to make this technique even better. Use plastic wood ota plastic molding instead. 1 bends very uniformly and yields near-perfect symmetvical curves. Azek, Fypon. Kleer and Versatex are several brands available at home centers. Choose a thickness that'l bend to the curve you need. For graduol bends or wide curves, use 3/4-in.-thick material. For tighter bends (those with a smaller radius), use a 1/2-in. x 1-1/4-in. plastic stop molding or something similar. Support the ends of the plastic wood with blocks attached to @ strip of wood. Adjust the position of tho blocks to change the curve BENT PLASTIC WOOD MAKES A PERFECT CURVE Clamp biecks to.a 2x2 and spring-fit a length of 12 plastic wood between them. Adjust tre position of the Blocks to change theDraw large curves with a giant compass Grab any narrow board or strip of ply- wood and drill a few holes—voila, instant compass. Drill @ pencil-size ynote a few inches from the end of the board. Then drill a screw-size hele at the pivot point. The distance between them should be the radius of the curve, if you know what thet measurement is. Otherwise, just use the trial-and-error method, drilling a series of pivot holes until you can swing the trammel and draw the right-size arch. I's easy (0 draw parallel curves too. Just drill two pencil holes spaced the desired dis- tance apart There's no limit to the size of the arch you can draw. if your plan calls for 9 10-R. radius, find a long stick and use the floor as your workbench. DRILL TWO PENCIL HOLES FOR PARALLEL CURVES Clamp the board and screw the compass to the workbench, Use a scrap to elevate the Compass to the same height as the board you're marking, Make sure the pivat pont of the Compass ig at 90 degrees to ihe canter of the board, Cut gradual curves with a circular saw “The first tool that comes to mind for cutting curves is a jig- saw, but if the curve is gradual, try a circular saw instoad, Ws surprisingly quick and easy to cut a smooth corve with @ circular saw. This method is for cutting rough curves, Don't try to make furniture with this technique. The trick is to make sure the curve is gradual enough that the blade doesn't bind, If you try this method and the blade binds or starts to heat up and smoke, switch to the jigsaw. The thin: ner the material you're cutting, the sharper the curve can bo. Set the blade depth so it barely projects through the bot- tom of the wood, YOU DON'T NEED A JIGSAW TO CUT CURVES. when you'te forming gradual Curves, you can speed things up by Using a cieular saw instead. 26 an4200 thatamitynanayman.com Stack and sand for matching parts When you have several identical curved parts, the best way to sand them is to stack them and sand them all at once. You'll seve time and the parts will all match perfectly. The wider surface keeps you from rounding off edges. If the parts require a lot of sanding, a belt sander is a good choice. If you don’t have to remove much wood. try a random orbital sander. The key to success is to keep the sander moving at all times 10 avoid creating any flat spots. Check your progress by running your hand over the parts, Mark high spots with a pencil so you'll know where more sand- ing is needed, a USE A RANDOM ORBITAL SANDER FOR TIGHT CURVES Line up the parts and clamp them together. they'e small parts, like these, clamp them (0 the workbench to hold them in place, Sand the curves smooth with a Belt sander or random orbital sander,Use a pattern anda router for irregular curves When your plan calls for cutting curved parts avd you need to make two ‘or more. first shape and sand a perfect full-size pattern from a piece of 1/2-in. mediurn- density fiberboard. Then use a router with, @ top-bearing pattern bit to cut out the parts. Here are a few tips for routing with a pattern bit First, use the pattern to mark the shape. Then remove excess material by cutting about 1/4 to 1/8 in, outside the lines with a jigsaw or s band saw. El workpiece 10 avoid cutting into your workbench. We used Bench Cookies (available at rockler.com; $12 for @ set of four). But hot-melt glue and scraps of ‘wood are another option. If you're cut ting material that’s thicker than the pat- tem bit is deep. cut as deep as you can, MAKE MATCHING PARTS WITH A PATTERN ‘ ‘Trace out and rough-cut your par. Attach the pattern with hot-melt glue. Use a top-bear- ‘Then remove the pattern and use the pecterabit te flow the partern ate shape ihe part Move the wines countercinckoee part as the pattern to complete the cut. aroun the pattern, jevate the 2B nima0) ineramityhangymanccem CREATE A BEAUTIFUL LIGHTED PLASTIC BRICK EDGING IN MINUTES PLASTIC BRICK LAYING GUIDES # Works Faster! ? Nothi ‘Alva Availabe in Low Votige Ako Available: Brick Fine Without Lights Glamorize Vour Yard... One Product Does It Alt! ‘¢ RISTS\AP TOGETHER AND PRESS IN GROUND NO MORTAR, NO TRENCHING, NO HAULING © CURVETT OR Go STRAIGHT © 2 EAR WARRANTY. .UV PROTECTED PLastic ALIONS BRICKS OR BLOCKS PERFECTLY + BLOCKSOUT ANY WEED GROWTH HOLES ALLOW For COMPLETE DRAINAGE + CREATE MANY MAINTENANCE FREE DESIGNS Argee Corporation 9530 Paso Stcet* Santee, C4 92071 CLD) 05080 ~ (00) 149-8030 * Fax (119) 119-9392 Emuit: argeeconpasheslobal net * Web: wwe argcccorpeonn Agee Corporation +0850 Paley Street * Santes, CA 92071 (AY OSUSD © (801) 419-5030" Fax (619) 498392 pe labstsGISWPGE sa gure e cont Email argecconMark an arch with two sticks Here's a quick way to draw an accurate curve if you know how wide and tall you want the arch to be. Let's say you want to draw an arch that’s 3 ft. wide and 9 in. high. Drive two nails at the onds of the 3-ft. baseline. At the center of the baseline, draw a perpendicular line and make a mark 9 in. above the baseline. Drive a nail at the mark, At ‘one end of the baseline, draw another perpendicular line and make another mark @ in. above tho baseline. Drive another nail at this mark. Photo shows how to arrange and connect two sticks that you will use to draw the arch (Photo) 1 oto Penci ar SET UP FoR ARCH DRAWING WITH TWO STICKS Drive nais atthe ends ofthe baseline and atthe height of the beh Lay one stick across two height nals ane’ lay the othe from tne ceater height to the end ofthe baseline, Connect the sticks with short pins or hot-melt glue ‘SLIDE THE STICKS OVER THE NAILS. Nestle a pencil into the crook of the sticks, With one end of the sticks resting on the baseline end nail and the other on the center height nail, slide the sticks along the nalls to draw the arch. 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Tractor on Facebook30 Check autour NEW Web site, may sound like hype, but adding rollouts to your Tife-changing. 1 speak from personal experience. I recently added roll- outs to our entize kitchen, and this is what happened: The kids have complete access to everything they need—from cero- al to the recycling, Now they can get their own breakfast and take the cans to the curb—no excuses! My sore back and my husband's bum knee are less of an issue since we no longer have to con- stenty stoop to find things in our base cabinets. Dinner prep goes a lot faster now that we'se not hunting for pot lids and baking pans piled on top of one another oo our jumbled, dark shelves. We're saving money by not buying things we already have (but that ‘had been lost in the recesses of our cabinets). We can pull our shelves into the light and see everything including the rancid oll and three boxes af comstarch we somehow acquired—need some? ‘The kitchen feels larger and works better. The rollouts maxi- mize every cubic inch of storage space, vo 1 can store rarely used appliances in my cabinets instead of on my counters. Are you a convert yet? This article will give you tips for planning, buy- ing and building kitchen rollouts so they can chango your life too. You can build a simple rollout drawer like the ones shown in a couple of hours for $20. But don't say I didn’t warn you. Once you see that rollout in action, you'll want {0 retrofit all your kitchen cabinets, What are you waiting for? kitehen cabinets can be ___nebo inside the box Building a slew of identical drawer boxes is easier, but having a variety gives you more vorsatility. Think about whet you're going to store and build the boxes to suit your needs. sides keep tall things stable yet still lt you see al the way to the back of the shelf. These are good for nesting pots and pans Or storing ciferent-size items on the seme shel Lower sides (3 In.is typical) work welt for smaiier items such as canned goods and spices. The iow sides make reading labels easier Shelves wth higher sides all around (6 in, tall rather than the typical 3 in.) are ideal for tippy plasti storage containers or stacks of plates, Rollouts = __ pests erick Ber nick im edtors@thetamiv se the right slides } | There are a dozen kinds of drawer slides out there, but if you want to keep shopping and installation simple, stick to these two types: Roller slides glide on plastic wheels, They're inexpensive, a cinch to install (it takes about two, minutes) and nearly impossible to screw up. You'll find them at home centers names including side mount, under mount and bottom mount. = Most are rated to carry 35 to 100 Ibs. For heavy-duty rollouts hold- ing items such as canned goods, use slides rated for at least 100 Ibs. The big disadvantage: Most roller slides extend only three ‘quarters of their length—the back of the drawer stays in the cabinet. tip ate cawerboes about 32, Stale than youead seat Rbotiad kde wtntayesst Foi tpe orate upto to- Sra oor eat heer ea Sinadone thts toowice under various Ball-bearing slides glide on tiny bearings. The big advantage of these slides is that they extend fully, giving you complete access to everything in the drawer. They're about three times the cost of roller slides, and they're usvally rated to carry 75 to 100 Ibs. bbut you can get 200-Ib. versions for about $40 @ pair. Home centers carry ball-bearing slides, but you'll find a wider variety at woodwork- ershardware.com. The big disad- vantage: They're fussy to install. If your drawer is a hair too big or ‘small. these slides won't glide. Och. =— Q— Ball-bearing They changed my life—and they'll change yours, too! 3 3 ¢ Roller stides are inexpensive end easy to Install, but they conly extend three-quarters. slides cost more and fre harder to install, but they can extend fly tnetamiynandymanccom june200 31RW A SHELE Make the most of skinny spaces Kitchen designer Mary Jane Pappas typically recommends 18: to 30-in.-wide rollout draw- ers for cabinets: “Any tanger and they're too clumsy. Any smaller and too much of the space is used by the rollouts them- selves.” But there is one type of rollout that makes good use of narrow spaces, even those only 8 to 6 in. wide. Pappas says that pullout pantries—single tall, narrow drawers with long, shelves, drawers, baskets or even pegboard (photobelow)—can be an efficient way to put skinny spaces to work. Ina small kitchen with tittle storage space, you can make even narrow fille spaces work harces by Installing a vertical pegboard rollout. ‘Shown's the 434 Series-6-in. Base Filler with stainless steel panel, $315, from Rev-A-Shelt com. Start at the bottom ‘The most useful rollout shelves and drawers are the ones closest to the floor since these elimi- nate the most awkward bending and crouching. If wont to limit your time and money invest- ment, you'll get the most bang for your buck by ratrofitting these areas first. Store-bought rollouts—what to look for You can spend as little as $10 for a simple wire rollout bas- et or as much as $100. So what's the difference? Look for rollouts with qual- ity hardware, Second+rate slides and rollers can sag or seize up under sacks of flour and pots and pans. Examine the slides to check whether they're roller stides (which extend only three-quarters of their length) or bail-bearing (which extend fally). Ball- bearing slides tend to sup- port heavier items and roll more smoothly. m Choose sturdy, chrome- plated steel rollouts. for heavier items. Steel roll- outs come in different gauge metals. Before order- ing opine, shop around at different retailers 50 you can physically compare the weight and density of the steel used by different manufacturers. = Epoxy-coated wire rollouts ‘and plastic inserts work fine for light-duty items, but they havea tendency to crack, bend and scratch if packed with heavy loads like canned goods. IKEA's Rationell Varlera pullout basket ($20; |kea.com) works well for medium-weight items, Rubbermald’s Slide Out Undersink Basket (No. 80360; $20 at home centers) handles ight items. Watch for obstacles Every cabinetmaker has a story about the rollout that wouldn't roll out but instead collided with some- thing. When you're measur- ing for the spacer width, watch ont for protrading hhinges and doors that don’t open fully or that protrude into the cabinet opening. ‘inn BECKY PRLUGER riopnty TOM FENENGA wes thet nated 32 sre2010 thetamitynandyman.comConfessions of a rollaholic T'm addicted to rollouts. Last winter | replaced every Single cabinet shelf in eu Kitchen ith alos, as- | tom-designed for whatever needed storing. I've built bout 15 more for my shop. I've learned that the key to 4 useful rollout is to decide what you want it 10 hold and design it around that purpose, These verti- cal rollouts in my shop are dedicated ta jugs. cans and jars of finishes and solvents, Before starting, | carefully laid out exactly what would 0 on each shelf on the workbench to et the sizes and spacing just right. They work fantastic. Travis Larson (aka Shop Rot) Avoid mistakes with a story stick ‘The most abvious way (o size rollout parts is to meas- ure the opening of the cabinet and then do the mat. But that's a recipe for mistakes because it's easy to forget to subtcact one of the components (like the ‘width of the slides or the drawers) from the overall ‘measurement. So try this: Forget the math end mark Your measurements on a piece of scrap wood. I's a great visual aid that helps you prevent mistakes and having to walk between your kitchen and your shop constantly 1 double- check measurements, = ows ‘Mark the exact widths of your rollout arts ona stick. That eliminates the math—ang the mistakes. Divide up wide spaces If tho cabinet is more than 30 in. wide, consider Installing two narrower rollouts side by side rather than a single wide one. This means some extra build- ing work and buying more slides. but the smaller roll- outs will operate more smoothly and easily. Wider shelves and drawers tend (o bind or rack as you slide them in and out. My daughter called her pantry “the black hole” because she ‘could never find what She needed on the deep shelves. | replaced the five full-width shelves with two six-drawer ‘stacks of sturdy full-extension drawers from IKEA, supported ‘by Interior center panels, We spaced the drawers caretully for the tyoes of items she planned to store. i Finishing touches include soft-close ‘dampers on the drawers and iron-on edge ‘banding for the bich plywoed panels. [Te } | Rationell 18-in-deep. fully extending Grawers cost about S38 each at kea.com.] din Wagener, sshfleld. MA 34 hew200 thetamitynandyman.comBaltic birch is best jbinetmakers love Baltic birch plywood for roll- outs because the edges look great. Unlike standard hardwood plywood, Baltic birch never has voids in the inner core, It may not be labeled "Baltic birch” at home centers, but you'll be able ta iden- tify it by comparing it with other hardwood ply- wood in the racks. WII have more and thinner laminations in the plywood core. The biggest dis. advantages of using Baltic birch are that it costs more than standard hardwood plywood and can be harder to find. A4x 8-Il, sheet will run you $65 compared with $50 for standard hardwood ply- wood. If your home center doesn't carry it, uy a traditional lumberyard. vow c‘om STANDARD PLYWOOD S fatne amen SS Keep drawer boxes simple All the drawer boxes in my shop are super sim- ple: butt-joint comers and glued-on bottoms. No rabbets, dadoes or dovetails. They don’t look very impressive, but they've held up for years. So T built my kitchen rollouts the same way, If simple boxes can carry tools and hardware, I figure they can stand up to kitchen use, toa, Gary Wentz, Senior Editor onside: havin srawer boxes made to your exect sgecs and then install thern Yoursel. The average cost of a sold meple, dovetalied single vrawer that | ‘we orders about $35, Compared with |p Soving material anc fering ft your. lie M feltmnot to: mention the dovetail Fointsyou eat beat ft Andit looks much nce. ‘Steve 2ubk, Nest Woodworking, Northfel, MN thatamitynanayman.com sune2o10 3S TURN YOUR Nee The Dust Deputy’s cyclonic action eliminates clogged filters for maximum vacuum performance. Dust can clog filters almost immediately, robbing aot of your vacuums suction power... unless you're equipped with the Dust Deputy. Our patented, award-winning esign retrofits easily ~ like a supercharger for any vac ~ and removes over 99% of dust. So rev up the power, and leave clogs “in the dust.” Durt Depu yUL ZUEHKE BLL ZUEHLKE 36 Rollouts galore! Get ideas, inspiration and plans on our new Web site! Simple pantry rollouts A great way to get more storage space in even the smallest kitchen Is by putting those narrow spaces and filler areas to ‘work with a rollout pantry, We have two great projects to choose from. One is a handle-free version that lets you line up ‘more than one rollout bie in a single cabinet. The other is 3 more traditional, three-drawer pantry rollout that reuses your ‘existing cabinet door and hardware. Both versions make it pos- sible for you to use every cubic Inch of storage space in your Kitchen. Visit thefamilyhandyman.com and search “kitchen storage” Rollouts for underused locations ‘The space under Sinks is often overlooked, but it's prime real estate for rollouts. This article gives step-by-step instructions for how to build two types of customizable rollout trays that fit around and below plumbing pipes, garbage disposers end fother obstacles beneath your sink. These rollouts transform that “Im not sure what's under there” storage space into an organized and efficient iocation for cleaning supplies that lets you see everything you've got in ane glance. Visit thefemily- handyman.com and search “kitchen storaae” ‘BLL ZUEHLKE (2) Classic rollout shelves plus a trash center Base cabinets have the least convenient storage In your sitchen. This article wil show you how to bing everthing 10 your cabinets within easy reach by rerofiting your base cabl- nets with classic rollout shelves it also shows how to con- ftiuet a specal roilout fer reeyeling end Wash without vsing expensive bottom-mount hardware, The article gives you step-by-step instructions for measuring, building the rollout drawer andits earl, attaching the drier sles, and mount: ing the unit in the cabinet, Visit thetamsiyhandyman com and search “kitchen storage” Rollouts at ankle level Turn wasted toe-kick cavies into clever flat storage space for serving trays, cutting boards and baking pans. This atticle shows you how to construct self-contained rollout shelving units that you assemble in your shop and then just slip into place beneath your existing cabinets, The article stops you through measuring and bulaing the shelf and carrer units, and ‘then installing ther in your kitchen. Even if you've never built or installed a drawer before, this article will show you how. Visit thefamilyhandyman.com and search “kitchen storage” {)ADVERTISEMENT MEDIA STORAGE: MAKE IT PERSONAL my One-size-fils-oll might work for some styles of clothing, but net when it comes to your home entertainment system. Your collection of CDs, DVDs, electronics ond video games are as individual as you are. At IKEA, you can build a home entertainment system to accommodate whatever your media ensemble looks like, Whether you need o few drawers and a surface for the TV or o wall-to- wall system, designers at IKEA hove combined storage and beauty to make your home entertainment system the centerpiece of the room. So where to begin? The key information you need to create your perfect system is bosic: how much equipment ond how many accessories you ‘wan! to store, the size of your television and the omount of space you have. Then ask yourself whether you prefer to disploy your TV or keep it behind closed doers. Do you have decorative items you'd like to show off? If so, think open shelves ond perhaps some lighting. - Whatever the space and your preferences, the perfect solution les in a combination of the BESTA storage system, FRAMSTA panel system and INREDA interior fitings by IKEA. The affordable BESTA system is designed to be flexible ond o ft—ond grow with—your needs. What's more, i's functional and durable enough to stand upto everyday use. From shelf units ond TV benches ta gloss, matte or high-gloss doors, BESTA FE iso one-of-a-kind system. The only real | constraints are the size of your space— ‘and your imagination.ADVERTISEMENT MEDIA STORAGE: MAKE IT PERSONAL IKEA-USA.COM/BESTA, STYLE FILE: WHAT WORKS FOR YOU? Is your CD collection toking over every room in the house or have you streamlined by going entirely digital? Whether your living room is oversize or carved out of @ corner in a studio apartment, there’s on IKEA entertainment system that will handsomely—and effortiessly—accommodate your medio equipment GREAT ROOM/GRAND STORAGE ‘A well-designed grect room is You can hong a flat-screen TV divectly ‘where fomily—and varied forily con the reinforced panel and hide the enieriainment—comes together. cables behind it. The BESTA shelving By dedicating @ stretch of wall to Unit accommedates sliding doors 10 the BESTA BOAS entertainment hide the set when i's off. Outfitted system, every kind of medio—books, with INREDA magazine shelves, magazines, DVDs, CDs—pius book ends, DVD. CD ond even wine electronic components ft neatly onto racks, the system helps you keep the shelves and into the drawers. track of it all. LIVING ROOM/OPEN AND CLOSED STORAGE space is limited for displaying show off decorative objects on ‘your collections and staring your adjustable FRAMSTA gloss shelves medio, the combination of open cond keep electronics. CDs, DVDs ‘and hidden storage featured inthe and other components out of sight. BESTA/FRAMSTA entertainment The wall brackst for a flat-screen TV system is ideal. This multifunctional _ollows you to tit the unit upwards, toinmant hub allows you to making it easy to plug io cords, THE MULTITASKING ROOM/MINIMAL STORAGE Insmoll spoces—orf you simply _cabinet lights underneath the. ~ need less media storage—the BESTA BESTA BURS wall shelf fo illuminate BURS entertainment system allows the area. Two large drawers with you fo accommodate a flal-screen up removable boxes provide plenty of 10.50 inches wide in ust under 5 feet space for games, DVDs and CDs. of space. And no need for lamps; And the BESTA BURS woll shelf itself you can mount a series of INREDA holds up to 118 DVDs. LOOKING FOR HELP? Fomilicrize yourself withthe aptions, then go online to stort wih @ pre-configured system for buld your own (IKEA-USA.COM/BESTA), And we encourage you fo Visit IKEA stores, where you eon plon your system and moke the best choices by walking theough he BESTA studia. Not feeling up 10 pulting it together? Your local IKEA store can provile you withthe ‘antoct information af on independent in-home oszambiy service, For smalfce. theyll buld ‘your system for you, Whichever way you choose lo work, IKEA knows yur entatainmant system must ke ‘onworking for you, THAT'S WHY BESTA OFFERS A 10-YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY, SEEIKEA STORE OR IKEA-USA.COM FOR DETAILS, B K E zm Visit us at IKEA-USA.com to find a store near you.Steel cable and shaft collars add style & strength by Jeff Gorton editors@thefamiiyharidyman.com This wall-hung bookshelf is one of the easiest we've ever built. Ifyou can stack blocks, you can build it. And installing the cable doesn’t requi any more skill than drilling a hole. Things wit go a lot quicker if you own a table saw, a miter saw and a pneumatic nailer, but you could eas- ily build this project with just basic hand tools and a circular saw. We used a router to bevel the shelf edges. but this is optional if you're dead-set on finishing this project in a weekend, here's how. ‘Skip the Friday night movie and cut out the parts and get one coat of fin- ish on, Then get wp early on Saturday and apply another coat or two of finish and you'll be ready to assemble and install the shelves on Stinday. ‘We spent a little under $200 for the materials, including the oak boards, cables and other hardware It's stronger than it looks ‘Your first question when you see this bookcase might be “Is it strong enough?” And the answer is a resounding yes. I's extra strong. in fact. ‘The back edges of the shelves are securely supported with screws ‘and blocks, and the front edges are hung from aircraft-strength cable. " We even epaxied the top of the cable to the standards just to make sure. Each shel is held up by shatt collars that are tightened onto the cables with setscrews, So don’t worry about the strength. These shelves could hold your dumbbell collection! 3 : é & 3 F z 2 5 a 40190209 thatamilyhandyman.com[IDRILL AN ANGLED HOLE FOR THE CABLE Start by drilling straight down about 1/8 in. Then tit the drill to ‘about a 45-degree angle and use the starter hole to keep the bit in place as you start to dril. The angle of the hole isn't critical. [EVASSEMBLE THE SHELVES ‘Add a cleat under the shelf and nail itn. Then add another shelf ‘and tack it to the cleat. Continue lke this until you get to the bot- tom. Now do the same thing on the other side, © FASTEN THE SHELVES: Flip the bookshelf over and drive screws into the back of each shelf through the holes in the standards. 42 NAIL THE SHELVES TO THE CLEATS. Drive a brad through the shelf into the support cleat. These brads Just hold the sheives in place when yau fp the bookshelf over to rive in the shelf screws (Photo 5) and secure the cable (Photo 6), [THREAD THE CABLE Start at the bottom shelf and.un the cable through the collars. and shelves Add two colars between each par of shaves. tthe top. thread the cable through the angied hole. Cut the parts Start by ripping the shelves to the widths given in the Catling List (p. 45). We used a full-width 1x10 for the bot tom shelf and successively narrower boards as we went up. ing all the shelves the same width would be OK, too. While you're at it, rip (0 t-in-wide strips from the 1x2s for the suppott cleats. Noxt, cut the boards to length. We used a 45-degree chamfer bil and router to bevel the ends and front edges of the shelves, but you could leave them square if you'd like. After the parts arp cut and prefinished, you're ready to assemble the shelf Assemble the shelves The shelves are t00 big to build on a normal workbench. If you're young and nimble, you could put them together on the floor. Otherssiso, save your back and line up a few old doors on a pair of sawhorses.Figure A Bookcase Materials List Tem yd0x5' boars 8 x" board 16 x5" board 2x6 boars 14/4" wood screws 3° wood screws No.10 finish washers 278° steel washers 3/6" wood sciews Fverminote epoxy No18-32 9p nuts wenn ssan-nn¥ Cable and colars are available from ‘MeMaster-Car (630-600-3600; ‘memastercom). Enter the product num ’bers nto the search 5ox0 fing the items listed. You may also be able to find cable ‘athome centers or hardware stores. The ‘cable costs 62¢ per Mand the colars are 189¢ eaen. 5/22" bore shaft collars (6432473) 22 8" 6x7 finer-core cable (3649716) 14° le ee Cutting List KEY QTY. SIZEA DESCRIPTION Yo Bary 5.1/8" x S9-/2" shalt 3/4" K6-VA"xS9-V7 shell 3/47/84 S8-V2 shall 3/4" x BVA" X S912" shel 3/6" x SV" X3B-V" shot 3/4 x 1-V2" x 68-14" nmonmy 341x174" cleats Si0e 3441x7304" dents zo ne Assembly is straightforward; follow Phates 1-6 and the details shown in Figures AandB. Hore are a few tips to help: = Mark the back of the shelves 13 in. from the ends so you'll know where to line them up with the standards (Photo. m= Koop the shelves and standards at a right angle to each other as you altach the cleats. That'll ensure that the cleats fit tight to the shelves. = Don't drive nails where you'll be drilling holes. = Drill mounting screw holes afier you have all the cleats installed. I’s easier to do it before you mount the shelves on the wall. String the cable The cable is flexible arid easy to cut, 50 i's a breeze to install. Just remember 10 put two collars on the cable. between each pair of shelves, as you thread the cable through the holes, Leave about 4 in. of cable sticking out the Figure B Shelf detail top and an extra foot or so on the hottom. The extra cable on the bottam lets you use our “cable pedal” method for removing slack (Photo 8). After stringing the cable, flip the whole works over so you can drive the shelf screws (Photo) and anchor the top of the cable (Photo6). Take a coffee break while the epoxy sets up. Mount the shelves ‘The shelf standards are spaced 32 in. on center to align with studs. So all you have to do is locate two studs where you ‘want the shelves to go and mark thom with masking tape. Setting the shetves on blocks (Photo?) is s handy way to hold them up while you drive the first few screws. Start by driv- ing one of the top screws. Before you drive the top screw in the second standard, check to make sure the shelves are lovel. After the two (op screws are in place, make eure the standards are plumb before you drive the remaining screws. ilynandymancam sne209 45[| ANCHOR THE CABLE WITH EPOXY Loop the cable In the recess and hold it down with a washer and screw. Then mix five-minute epoxy and fil the recess with I, [EITENSION THE CABLES Tighten the cable using a scrap of wood with a hole init to put tension on the cable while you tighten the setscrew on the collar below the lowest shelf. Then snug the remalning collars 0 the top ‘and bottom of the shelves and tighten the collars used No, 10 finish washers under the screws far a dec~ orative effect. Tighten the cable At this point, the cable is slack ond the collars are still loose. Your goal is to take the slack out of the cable and then 46 hines010 thetamiynansyman.com Betta prea MOUNT THE BOOKSHELF Locate two studs that are 32/n, apart with a stud finder, Screw the standards to the studs, making sure the shelves are level and the Standards are plumb, [ED] TRIMAND CAP THE CABLE Use a side-cutting pliers or lineman’s ples to cut the cable. Leave Vain, protruding. Cover the end of the cable with a cap nut. Use hot-melt give or silicone caulk to hold the cap nut in place. adjust each shelf so it’s level from front to back while you Lighten the collars (Phote8). Use an Allen wrench to tighten the setscrews. Remember, you don't need too much tension on the cable, just enough to remove the slack. Finish up by cutting the cable and covering the end with a cap nut (Proto). 2FamilyHandyman.com The best tool for rally elu wh aes GET ALL YOUR PROJECTS DONE FASTER, EASIER ANDurtavorite tools This year, we vdecided to take the debate outside. Check out ‘our favorite indispensible tools to make yard and garden work easier, if you're going to buya wheelbarrow, set one that‘ last you forever. Jackson wheelbarrows are heavy duty—they won't twist under heavy loads, and the large leg stabilizers let you set dewn loads withaut the wheelbarrow tioping over ‘The large 16-in. front ‘wheel makes pushing full loads easier. And the deep bbed (6 cu: ft. or more) gives Yyou plenty of space for mix- Ing conerete oc hauling dit. co wheelbarrows like these cast $100 and up— ‘but you'll never have to buy another one. They're avall- able at Lowe's and other Good dogs are like good tools—they get the job done, Amelia keeps rabbits and weodchucks out of the gar- n, but her finest talent is rounding up guinea fowl. fesslonal.com. ~Ken Catt‘After being repeatedly frus- trated by the string disap~ pearing inside the head of my weed trimmer, |instaiied the SharperBiade Trimmer Biade ($25). t's nota string—its a blade made from nyion embedded in polymer, and it cuts Uke a lawn mower blade, ‘The blade never needs sharpening. As you use it, the polymer wears down to ‘expose a new edge. Ive been using mine for three years, and I'l never go back to string. The only down= sides: It'il senda stone fly- Ing and it's hard on trees (don't get too close). You can install the blade on any trie able head and threaded shaft (nearly all do). Get it at sharperbladecom. (866-766-9563). — Brett Martin, associate editor Got a treasured outdoor tool? pote nse egererreaet Perera eters never have to deal with 3s, ol. exhaust furnes or starting problems with my Neuton mower—it runs ona rechargeable battery. And my wie ies it because it's easy to operate anc push uphill. Battery-powered mowers like this one are perfect for ‘small lawns lke mine. They eliminate the need to store fuel, are more eco-friendly than gas engines and are ight enough to lift retaining walls. Neuton mowers start at $400 plus Shipping from neutonow= encom (800-798-2921). Jeff Gorton, associate editorae Super-sharp pruning saw I camry these Japanese pruning saws when I'm ‘camping, canoeing or work- ing In my yard. The saws have aggressive teeth, so they can saw through tough branches in less time than Ittakes to get out a chair ‘saw. leven use them to cut through frozen branches. the handle, allowing you to ‘arty the saw safely in your Pocket. The saws start at ‘These gloves are ideal for gardening. The rubber palms protect your hands from muddy soll and prickly plants, while the mesh or cotton back lets ar circulate so your hands can breathe. “The gloves are tough but still at you pick up small obiects. When they get dirty, lust wash them and head back outside again, You can find them at home centers for about $5, =Nancy Scherer, | theboss'ewite 4ieee spherical = \ sprayed Fertlome's Weed Free Zone herbicide in the pring and it wiped out my creeping charlie, clover dandelions and ot broadleaf weeds. What makes Weed Free Zone special is that you can Use itip early spring when its only 45 degrees F and the weeds are just starting Most herbicides require you 49 wait until temps reach, 60 degrees or higher—by that time weeds have had several weeks to grow. It also works fast—yau can see it killing some weeds, like dandelions, in just ix hours. A quart of cancen- trate costs $35. 1's av able at some garcen cen: ters. To find a dealer, vist fertlome.com, “Tom Fenenga. staff photographer Myall-in-one gardening Se has saved me alot of trios to the garage. |use the bypass pruners for cutting =~ back hydrangeas and “ spireas. The saw is handy Shenae for tearing through fibrou = difficutt stoms tke rugosa rose canes and honeysuckle vines, which don't always ut cleanly with a pruning tool. 've been using th ‘small knife blade to ‘open bags of potting soit mulch and manure. You can, find the tools for $15 and up at amazon.com, Elisa Bernick, associate editor {tyou want the Leatherman Hybrid Gardening Muit-Too! ered shown, get while it tats at ae amazon.com. The company recentyretked this version. fener Fpornpeee eet eeeieteer See eres Pere ett meee ==by Breet Martin Besides the right tools for a job, you want the right clothes. That means clothes that'll keep you warm in the winter, coo! in the summer and comfortable ‘yearound. This story features a selection of ‘our favorite clothes—some tried-and- true items that have stood the test of time, and some new clothes that offer something different. Since everything here was picked (mostly) by a bunch of hammer-swinging guys, we can't guarantee that you'll look fashionable ‘wearing this stuff, But FAVORITE EARMUFFS: We've worn a lat of hearing pro tection, but earrufs that have a bult-la radio or MPS layer are our favorites, Eormutts ke these (Peltor Digital Worktunes, WTD2500) uffe loud power tools while ] playing tunes. ‘And they fit so ULTRA COMFORT oivcnony, y youl forget youre wearing them. Cost: S50 you will feel good. 4 ae LUV PROTECTIVE SHIRT: The sun's tays con penetrate cotton T-shirts and, over ‘time, damage your skin. If you spend a lot of hours outside, wear2 shirt that protects against the rays. Look for UV ultraviolet) oF UPF (uitraviotet protection actor) on the label, Cost: $20 and up, IRY UNDERWEAR: Comfort starts down uncer. Underwear that pulls sweat away from yaur body (tke this Buck Naked underwear from Duluth Trading Co.) keeps you dry. These skivvles don't ride up ‘and cling to your inner thigh elther. Cost: $1450 and up. COMPRESSION SOCKS: These socks reduce fatigue when you're on your faet all day. ‘They're super tight to improve circulation ‘and keep your feet and ankles from swelling. We like the Medical LegWear socks from Joost (starting at $30) Check out our NEW Vieb sre w KEEPS.vor See p. 57 for buying Information. ‘Andy's last DIY project was gutting his mom's rental house: ‘and ripping up the old carpst (yes, he had her permission). ‘At night he attends grad school, working toward his MBA. cton MARCIA ROEPKE- Posey TOM FENENGA: Siig LISA PAL ‘editors@thetamllynandyman.comco FAVORITE KNEE PADS: Our tile uy, Dean, (oves these Platinum knee and distribute your body weight down your iegs. You're not putting all your weight on your kneecans. Cost: $40, LONG-rall Extractong tees like this fone from Duluth Trading Co. are longer than most shits. When you're bent over under the sink, they've got your backside covered. Cost $1450 and up. (T-FITTING WORK GLOVES: These gloves keep your hands splin- terfree while you're handling lumber ang blister-free when you're dig ging postholes, ‘and they fit tight enough to let youhald a hall. Cost: $15 and up. OVERSIZE JEANS: Here's a tio tom fone of our flooring Installers—wear leans that are one size teo big when youre doing 8 lot of bending and kneeling. Roomier pants don’t pull tight ‘as you're working, Dominic built an old-fashiones farm porch on his house last winter. He's a firefighter and a youth hockey coach. 54 ne20' tnatamitynanayman.com Your prescription glasses don't have shatter-proof lenses. your eyes aren't fully protected. These safety glasses have pvescriotion tenses, Cost: $55 and up. 'Bads from Supetioréiit. They support your knees and shins BANDANA:A bandana keeps sweat ot of your eyes and erotects yourhead fim sun= burn And unite baseball cops sweaty ban- danas canbe tossedin the washer and ‘rye and not lose the shape TINTED SAFETY GLASSES: We the ese safety glasses and sungtastes in oneeve potettlon plus shade And they lek cool attach $3 strap tonane tne STAYING CooL Jie around your neck when you not wearing thar, Cost: $8 andup, WICKING THiS: “These “wicking” ‘Tshirts are made mostly of pester topul sweat away from your boty We've been wear- beg them. and they realy do keep You Ger Cost $12 ondup. canpenren HORTS: ie wear these shorts even wherein he umn mer Theyhaveexta pockets forhand tools and cell ‘hones, and the sears nove eta stching to wth stand abuse. Cost ; $20 andup ‘See p.57 for buying Information. Jay just replaced the base, trim and crown molding as. part of his five-year, "uber-cheap” remodel of his house, He works a5 a painter, @ drywallar and a skimcoater.L SAFETY GL I you switch between safety glasses and reading glasses. get bifocal safety glasses. They protect your eyes while letting you read the fine print. The guys in our office who wear ther say they work great. Cost: $10 and up, OL VEST, Al, oUr electrician, loves vests from Skillers. You can fil the pockets with tools so they're always at your fingertips. And they'te not all bunched tagether like in 3 tool belt Cost: $80 and up, TER PANTS. We wear these pants in the shop. the office and everywhere else (well, almost!) ‘They fit nicely ever work boots and hhave a ton of pockets for tools, glasses and an iPod. Cost: $22 and up. stow 'S. With 2 rubber palm and cotton back, these gloves are perfect for grabbing a scummy pipe or cleaning crud out of gutters. We ‘wear them whenever we're handling grimy parts or materials. Cost: $5. DE-BRIMHAT. when you're ready to leave your baseball caps <. ‘behing, graduate to a wide-brim hat—It'll do a much better Job Of shielding your face and ears from the sun. This one from, Tilley has a secret pocket inside for money, papers or keys, Cost: $60 and up, INSECT REPELLENT CLOTHING. ExO}ficlo says its Insect Shield, clothes protect against insects for up t0 70 washings. We don't know how effective they are, but they look and feel 200d. Cost: $60 and up for shirts: $85 and (ptorpants LiGHTWEIGHT, WATERPROOF BOOTS We ke these boots from Muck B0cts when worn a imwet. muddy conltions. Rinse them of ww, ard theyre as good as new. The SS ‘ee breathable liner helps keep you" feet from getting hot f 4 \\ MUD, SUN, BUGS? NO PROBLEM! ‘ ‘snd smelly. Unlike cheap rubber boots, these rubber boots stay flexible for years and have @ super thick heel ” Ally's latest DIY project was restoring Ed's latest DIY project was installing a new bedroom some old furniture with her dad. floor made from salvaged wood, His day jobs are act- She is a Shakespearean actress. ing and working for a telecammunications company.comfortably fitting hood keeps your neck if youdon't pull it over your head, Cost: $10 ang up. FAVORITE OVERAL Insulated coveralls feel ike a straltlacket. But insulat- e¢ overalls let you easily Uiftyour arms and twist, your torso, They're what TFH editors wear in the ‘winter (and have been wearing for decades). Cost: $50 and up. HEATED GLOVES. After weacing battery-powered loves for three years, we have just one comelaint: They sometimes get too hot (se we turn them off). The 7-volt batteries inthese Gerbing gloves last hours per charge. Cost: 8150 and up, IEATED BOOTS, And for the totally electric Diver, there are battery-powered Bugathermo boots from Columbia. They'll warm your tootsies for up to elght hours per charge, and they feel very flexible. Since they're new, we don’t know how they'll eld up Long term. Cost: $250. Ouch! IAT. Moms everywnere are gonna start saving. ‘Be sure to wear a heated hat!" This one from Thermo- logic has flaps to keep your noggin and your ears ware and rechargeable batteries that last up to four hours, We haven't tested it in @ Minnesota winter, but the technology shows a lot of promise. andi's one DED SWEATSHIRT, If you're golng to wear 2 sweatshirt, go with a hooded one. The hat. Cost: $80. wt010 ‘Mike's latest DIY project was instal a hardwood floor in his own house. By day. he’s a roofer. and he alsa refinishes floors. ATTERY-OPERATED CLOTHING CoLMBIA spoRTsWear CO.Clthog fete ooransr rece ne atta Soot (000) en-c089 csureiscore Genaive, laches sats anges (sean sn-ca98 stones ShemOLoaie sachets vests loves na ms (87) 905 Gast hemalognet Durooon cean CABELAS Outrweds endures. on cantar sis, prs. cutrwear Snaootwone cing nt ovr Sts andinctre copra ana wo Shoat and sungrees (800) 255308 teks. sts ams outerwear and woresexb including nated overs srapecats won pantsand arpeners stone tees) ontaoratsescorm ExorFII0.Otermar pans sorts shoe, Staining eset Shed cota {30} eeeos03 eatciocem SKILLERS USA Wore dotnes pants, ince pads an nttrpoctet sorte ($005 S25 707 serica com ‘Pentets UNDERWEAR AND SOCKS DULUTHTRADING CO. Outerwear nde Seer anv ane panos uct Naked ‘Tecrearalonat Fs (00) 505.806 duhutwatngcom Soper. comaresson socks, (000) 5373068, yeoscusscom {nor ARNOUR, shoes undersea’ ond tinea Coting loa wetng and OPE ‘five (600) 78 soa wadnrourcom IMUcK B00TS. cols, shoes andelogs. (00) 77.2021 musiotcomaom THULE. ar uneweasock ss shots a pants (600 305-875 yon coves, " ATLAS GLOVE. Rubber alm brctfabe- Shexgower (200) 20-8c0 StS ater sed prden stres THON CLAD won gloves gon, UPF shits (slats ender and compres socks (Gio 629800 ronceccom MECHANIX WEAR, won racingand igh Mien gowe (000) 2820306: mchanincom [EXD AMEE paDs MSA SAFETY WORKS. Hearing head ana tye prterton euog tied cate ass oe aoy orerceoe maostetwro om PELTOR, Heating protection (ny sceccratewecat suppon setercon sce ncoing rasan sey Sus {Gass cosa" papesoteyeor RADIANS. Meaning heed and ee protean (ern reser enianacore Supenionaur rn es otc {sony 22 ere Sree eaictecom inetamishandymancem accom 57SOMETIMES IT’S GOODTO BE ATOOL Especially when your home is a tool chest from Gladiator GarageWorks. See our complete line of storage and organizational products and enter to win a workshop — including @ new tool chest — by visiting www GladiatorGW.com/TFH RE The AWRENCH FOR EVERY JOB Since 1941, Liquid Wrench has been making premium, lubricating, penetrating and protecting products for those who know that their choice of \aols can make all the difference. Visit wwwliquidwrench.com for more information, A PROFESSIONAL LOOK FOR DAD Purdy is the brand of choice for painting ® professionals, delivering proven quality and innovative products that always provide the perfect finish. Go to wwrwpurdycore.com for more information, PROFESSIONAL PAINTING TOOLS THREE REMOVABLE FLASHLIGHTS WRAPPED IN ONE This unique tripod design from Stanley has three high powered individual flashlights you can use separately or together in their base, With multi-directional heads, one-touch activation, slip-resistant fest, shatterresistant lenses and a weather-resistant design, it's perfect for DIY dads. For more information visit www.stanleytools.com or call 1-800-STANLEY. STANLEY ‘eGREAT GIFT IDEAS FOR THE DIY DAD a ROCELE R RAISE DAD'S WOODWORKING TO A NEW LEVEL Rockler’s Bench Cookies are revolutionizing the workshop, allowing for stable routing, sending and carving without traditional clamps: get a pack of four — only $11.99, Call 1-877-ROCKLER or go to www.ROCKLER.com, KEEP DAD A CUT ABOVE ‘The Walt Lithium lon Groomer is the world’s first groomer with the power of a lithium ion battery. With its interchangeable heads, you have the power to trim, shave and detail even the toughest beards, For more infarmation, go to www Wahltrimmer.com THE FINISHING TOUCH TO A PERFECT FATHER’S DAY Aviininane INWAX. ‘Show your love for Dad this Father's Day by making something beautiful. A simple wood finishing project will provide him with KONO aea Ns years of enjoyment. And with Minwax® stains and finishes’ a beeutiful, professional wood finish is easy to accomplish for beginners and experts alike. Get started with unique and inspiring ideas at minwax.com SEALTHE DEAL WITH DAD Give your dad a Father's Day gift he can use again and again. Spend some quality time helping him to protect his deck and keep it looking beautiful, or do It all for him with Thompson's. Either way, i's a gift he can enjoy all summer long. Visit www. thompsonswaterseal.com for more information.ielqca thie Fix boats, personal watercraft, even truck toppers. Do it yourself and EWM ialoleit (ure ts Rn ee ea ee Coma Bon eee Rr car oero aig Po Ma ene Lad ea CN ee CAA ned PEST Ree ei nc Bee age oe oe nd ponMost hired-out repairs of eny type are roughly 50 percent labor and 50 percent materials. Not so with this fix—hull repairs are all about labor. The repairs on this boat would cost roughly $3,000 at a shop. But the mate- rials only cost $250 and the buffer $150! So roll up your sleeves. Your repairs might not be perfect, but your boat will look unbelievably better than it did before, Just don't try to rush or skimp on the materials, And know that this job is much bigger than it looks. All fiberglass boats have a thick structural core of fiberglass strands impregnated with polyester resin. But the part you actually see is the gol coet. That's the thin layer of pigmented resin that gives the boal its sheen and color. ‘Most light scratches are in the gel coat layer. They can be sanded out ond the area built back up with new gel coat, Bul if they penetrate the core. they reed to be filled. You can tell that the scratch is into the core if you see fiber- glass fibers (Photo2). Remove graphics No boat spilf-up is complete without new license numbers, transom names ‘and pinstripes. Just do an Internet search for “bost graphics” and you'll find thousands of options 10 choose from. Find stripes by searching for "boat pinstripes.” Remove the ald ones by warming them with » heat gun (Photo 1). But be careful—if you over- heat the surface, you can burn the gel coat. If yours are painted on, sand them off with 1,200-grit sandpaper 1g gouges and deep scratches To fix gouges and deep scratches, you'll need “chop” (powdered fiberglass) filler, gel coat and gel coat reducer. Jat down your boat's model and serial numbers and contact the manufacturer to order gel coat (shout $109 per qt.) to match your boat’s color. It may not be an exact match. but it'll be a lot closer than mixing colors from scratch. Then order some gel coat reducer (Patch-Aid is one brand; $49 per qt. from mini- crafticom or spectrumcolor.com) to thin the mixture enough to go through the spray gun. For gouge repaic, you'll mix chop filler (Chris uses Cab-O-Sil, which is available for $8 per qi. from 62 anez0.0 tmetamttynansyman.com Eo EB REMovE OLD NUMBERS AND PINSTRIPES Set the heat gun to 2 low setting and eel off the ald Secals and aum- bers. Use adhesive remover to get id of any residue. Cuta U-shaped {groove into the ‘gouge with a high- ‘speed dle grinder or rotary tool and a burr nose bit. Taper the edges of the gouge to eliminate sharp edges in the old gel coat. 13 THE FILLER Stir in enough chop to get the mixture to the consistency of peanut butter. Then ‘30 hardener (fol- low the manufac- turer's ratlo) and stir, stl, sti Chock out our NEW Vieb site!FILLIN THE GOUGE ‘Scoop the gel coat putty into the gouge. Then preset Into the fibers with a craft stick. Add more putty until you're about 1/32 In above the surface, Clean up any goofs with acetone. Gl sano THE PatcH Knack down the excess putty with 80-giit sandpaper and a rubber Sanding biock. Then switch to 240-grt- I mix new cet. coat ‘Add the hardener after you've mixed In the reducer. Follow the manufacturer's eecommended ratio of hardener to gel coat. ‘epoxy8050.com) with the gel coat to create a thick paste, Then pick up paper cups, stir sticks, acetone (for cleanup) and rags. You'll also need a disposable spray gun (Preval is one ‘brand; §7 online or at paint and ort sup- ply stores). To finish the job, you'll need a professional-type buffer. The variable-speed feature is important, and so is the high power of a profes- sional buffer. So don’t skimp on one or think you can get by with a $29 wax polisher. Use a wool buffing pad (such as» Dewalt DWa968 pad; $23), and buffing compound (3M Imperial Compound and Finishing Material is what Chris uses). Get them from 64 wmz010 tnatamttyhenaymen com SPRAY ON THE FINAL COAT amazon.com, westmatine.com or a ‘marine supplier. Grind out gouged areas with a Veshaped grinder bit (Champion SF1; $14 from heavydutystore com; Photo2) Sand oul the light scratches, stanting with 80-grit and ending with 240-grit Mixing gel coat is a messy and stinky process—so wear chemical-resistant gloves, safely goggles and a respirator Start with a small amount of gel coat ‘and stir in the chop and hardener to make a pully that’s the consistency of peanut butter (Photo3}. Once you add the hardener, you've only got a 30- to 20-minute “open” time, so mix small batches and work on one gouge at a Pulse the sprayer to get short Dursts of gel coat. Fe along the edges to reduce sarcing time. Thorough mixing is critical to peoper curing. Spend o full minute stirring. 1f you don you'll end up with patches of sticky resin that can take days to harden. Overlill gouges so the filler mounds slightly. You'll sand it @ush after it cures. Curing can take one to two hours—depending on humidity levels. So test it by touch, If it’s sticky, i's not fully cured. Once it’s fully hardened, sand it with 80-grit sandpaper (Photos) * —— aIF YOU'VE GOT INTERNET ACCESS, YOU'VE GOT BOAT ACCESS. | need to Find, register and eve ‘haul the boat of your dream Now you're ready to mix a fresh batch of gel coat (without the chop) and spray the scratched and patched areas (Photos 6 and 7). Chris recom: mends using a disposable spray gun and paper cups. Unthinned gel coat ‘won't go through the sprayer. Add the recommended amount of reducer (cead label dicoctions) and hardener and mix the ingredients. Spray the patched areas with short bursts Spraying gel coat isn't like spraying paint. It splatters on and has to be sanded and buffed to get to a smooth | floss. So don't be disappointed thot the finish isn’t paintlike right away. Final-sand, buff and wax | Wait for the gel coat to cure. Sand the | repairs with 600-grit and then 800-grit sandpaper. For the perfact finish, sand with 1,200-grit_wet/ dry paper then buff (Photo 8). Apply buff- ing compound directly to the pad. Work on a 2x 2+. compauno area and use light to medium pressure al a fairly low speed. Reduce pressure as the compound starts to dry. Wipe off the haze as you go. Apply the graphics and then wax. Order of event: | | Wash and rinse the boat, That will show you all the dings that need fixing. Mark them with masking tape so you won't forget any. If you're replacing pinstines. license decals or other graahics remove them next. 1 Fill any deep gouges and spend your time sanding out scratches While the filler sets up, = Apply gel coat to the filed ‘gouges and finish to the scratch ‘es and then final-sand the filed gouges wt Butt all the repaired areas and then the rest of the boat. 1 Apply any graphics to finish up. | 66 wrs200 snetamitamansymanceom Ey Burr To GREAT SHINE ‘Take a seat and heft the buffer into post tion, Start slovdy and butt small sections at atime [El APPL NEW DECALS. Position the new boat numbers and tape the sheet n place. Then lift the sheet up, yemove the backer and press each number individually. Don't try to apply them ail at once—they'll wiinkle. Color-matching. gel coats ‘Sometimes you can't get your hands. lon factory gel coat (your boat Is too old or the manufacturer is out of business). Then you have two ‘options. You can order an off-the- shelf color that's close to yours and decide that "close enough is good enough" The other option is to.cus- tom mix, Bt be aware that this is 10 easy task, Buy a color chip chart for off-the-shelf colors (from a local ‘marine supplier, of et the No. 01900 color chart from rayplex.com for $12). Mix your own cotor with akit (No, 33114; $35) fromm rayplex.com (905-579-1433), oPaint tray birdbath | Molly, outr cockatiel, loves to take baths—and hee favorite bathnut isa plastic paint tray. The ribs on the | bottom of the tray give Aer traction, and the tray’s | slope lets hor wade in the shallow water antil she’ ready 10 move into the doop end Paint trays are cheap and easy to | | clean, and they also make great turtle | | pools (but don’t tell Molly}. | Roxie Polnou | | | Bunny rabbit A/C || Hot summer days ace tovgh on bun igroat way to secvele plastic water botles and keep your bunnies cool at the same time. Fill the bottles | with water rose them solid and then set them out in the rabbit hatches. ‘The bunnies love to, laze against the bottles as the ice thaws. This works geeat ‘with puppies, (oo Tam one Maoren | McLearen HANDY HINTS*® for from our readers m editors@thefemityhandyman.com An pet food dishes Every summer, ants invade our kitchen, and one of their favorite destinotians is our dog's food bowl. We came Lup with this simple way to keep them oat of her bow!— ‘we set her dish in a pan of water. Not only doos it keep | the ants out of the dog food. but Sage can take a gulp of \wator from the pan whenever she needs a drink, Joanne Jensen ats ELSA BERNIGK -Avncton BECKY PFLUGER -Matity TOM FENENGA ness rotedt No-barking zone Does your dog's barking in the car drive you nuts? Try this lick: Every time your dog barks, close the win. dows (watch her head). She'll quickly learn that barking means no fresh air and no slobbery tongue flapping in the breeze. Alter @ few car rides, you'll both be driving around in blissful silence, Troy Koonce [ATW WRN 7 DREANSTIMECOM uBell training for dogs Here's an vasy way your dog can let you know she reads to go outside with- out any barking or sceatch- ing at the door. Hang some bells from the doorknob and your dog will quickly eat to associate the sound! of the bells with the door opening. Soon she'll nudge them herselt. You can speed things along by figeling the bells and say- ing “Outside? Wanna go outside?” for a few days every time your dog goes out. Your dog will be able to “talk” © you about going outside even when you're somewhere els the house Mitch Gustafson Rainy-day doghouse Twas eyeing a nice litle doghouse that would hold up in the ain, but the $590 price tog was alittle rich for my blood. I decided to make my own for 2 fraction of the price using o plastic storage bin. col a small hole in it, flipped it over on its lid and stuck a dog bed inside it. Linus loves watch: ing the rain from. inside his snug ite house, and { saved $85! The only problem is that our cat likes it so much T can't keep her out of it. Guess I'm going to have to make her one too Corey Ash eS os = Se T don’t ‘want to talle ‘about st Dog-spot solutions Growing a neat lawn in an area Hrequented by dogs is difficult but not impossible. Acidic dog urine discolors and kills the grass, leaving a patchwork of brown spots. Here are a few tricks for keeping the grass | green 1. Apply lime or gypsum regu- larly to neutralize the acid in | the soil and restore the bal- ance that grass prefers. 2, Water the arva heavily etch week to dilute the wrine. 3.Don't fight it! Replace the ‘grass with small round gravel {pea rock) bordered with | stone cobbles or brick. Place landscape fabric beneath the rock to prevent weeds from popping up end your prob- lem is solved, permanently. And another plus—less gross to mow! We want your feedback! Help us improve The Family Handyman by sharing your opinion of this and other articles Seep. 4 for details tneramuynangymancom onezse 69Portable water dish My dog and I take long walks together, and on hot days we both get pretty thirsty, Before leaving the house, 3 always stulf 8 plastic shower cap in my pocket. That way, [can BP se my dog o deink from any handy tap, drinking fountain or ray water bottle whenever she needs a slurp. Karen Homilion Bird retrieval A pet bird that gets loose can be difficult to recapture. Try clasing the curtains and turning off all the lights. Birds don’t usually fy in the dark, so tll land and be easy to spot with a flashight Wind-proof dog dishes eA eee en ria ten feacied dish only to find thet it's blown Oe aa ae oe Seeing eer para Bera ere ene a ber esd ciated Notaeo Svar Eri eS 70 sre200 \netamiiynandymancom Pet tips from our Field Editors High-tech pet doors After the neighborhood rac- coon discovered my dogsy door, | Installed a locking doar that unlocks when it detects the transmitter on imy dog's collar ($100 to $170). Unlocking some- times takes a few seconds and the door has jammed a few times, But it keeps out the wildlife land stops winter drafts much better than the old low-tech door. There are also motorized models that open the door automatically (starting at about $250). To browse a wide variety of doors, ‘check out petdoors.com (800-826-2871). ‘Thomas Czerwinski, Austin, TX Paws off countertops Here's a great way to teach cats that countertops are off limits: Lay contaet paper along the edge of the top sticky side up. Cats hate the stuff ‘and will avoid your countertops after a few sticky experiences. Bess Knudsen, Beltona, FL. [Bess isnt Justa field editor; she's also a profes- sional animal behaviorist.) Childproof = pet-proot Uke kids. pets get into places they shouldn't. To stop them, | ‘tur to inexpensive chidprooting products: latches for cabinets, locks for doors, and gates for doorways. Discount stores carry some of these products. For a wider selection, shop online. Kidsafeinc.com is a good place to start. sim Duty, Mays Landing, NI ‘We're always looking for volunteers who are will ing to share their experiences. Whether you're a ro ora DIY beginner, e-mail us: eaitors@thefamilyhandyman.com.[ 7 If Low-fat dog treats My vel suggested we replace our over weight dog's high-calorie rats with plain rice cakes. Personally, think they're taste- less, but our dog goes nuts over them! They're super low fat and they're a Jot | cheaper than his regular treats too Charlotte Dix Private dining | ect :| Bave some for mel Please? mR —_ Chew-free electrical cords Dur dogs love 10 gnaw on electrical cords around the house. This is not only danger- ous but also really irritating when they destroy my computer cables. I solved the problem by wrapping the cords with split flexible plastic conduit that you get at home centers and automotive stores ($3.50 for 19 ft). Just cut the leagth you need and push the cords into the presplit slot, Our — dogs have com: pletely lost interest. in the cords. Now if we could just get ther to stop chewing up our slippers! Ann Bursch spur supe See p. 4 for details. Easier bath time Fora calmer and easier bath time, make a dog washing station in your shower. Caver the drain with a hair catcher ($3.50 at hard~ ‘ware stores) to prevent fur from clogging it. Gut a hole in a bath mat so it fits over the drain and lay it in the shower to prevent your dog from slipping around. Temporarily replacing your showerhead with a handheld sprayer ($10 at home centers) gives ‘you more control and lets you avoid spraying water into your ppot’s oars. Dogs like the extra space in the shower, you don't have: to reach awkwarilly over the tub and everyone involved will find ath day a whole lot more pleasant. a Jillayne Hoxton i Noxt stop,QUESTION & COMMENT SS PROT 3 ‘Outfit your outdoor kennel with the proper flooring and drainage, a ‘shady area and a wind break, Pick pall the ‘materials at your local home center. fess bby Rick Muscoplat ‘editorse@thetamilyhandymen.com Figure A ‘Outdoor dog kennel Build an outdoor dog kennel QUESTION want to build an outdoor dog kennel. Can you alve me some guidelines for sizing the kennel and choosing materials? ‘We contacted Lisa Peterson, directox of communications for the American Ken- nel Club, for design advice and to find ut some of the mast common mistakes. ‘We were hoping to get a sizing for ‘mula, But it turns out there's no such thing. Kennel sizing is based on how much time your dog will be spending in the kennel and how much room you have to spare. If your dog is going to be Th e2010. tHetamilynandyman.com outside all day, he needs a larger ken- nel so he can run and exercise. If you make it too small, he'll take every opportunity to “get even” with you and your neighbors with nonstop barking and other bad behaviors. So larger is better For walls and doors, chain link fenc- ing is your best bet (4 ft. tall minimum, and taller if you have a larger dog). It affordable and easy to assomble, and you can buy premade wall and door sections at any home center. Buy a spring-loaded “snap clip" to secure the swing-down latch (some dogs can fig- ture out how to open those latches and escape). If your dog is a digger, you'll have to embed a “direct burial” treated 2x12 below the fence. Or bury the fence itself about 1 ft. into the soil (sce Figure A), Those methods aren't foolproof, but they'll usually prevent a “great escape." Screen off any sides that face strects or sidewalks by sliding privacy slats through the fencing. That'll cut down ‘on barking and overall stress. When it comes to flooring material, concrete may soem like the best choice because you can slope it for deninage ‘arin DAVIDSMDSON - lagaly TOM FENENGA eral At RANK ROHRBACHand it’s easy to clean. But it’s actually a mistake. The hard floor will, over time, cause calluses, worn pads, splayed toes and painful joints. Instead, Lisa recommends either large poa gravel (some dogs eat smaller gravel) or large flat stones (flagstone). The irregular shapes actually help your dog develop stronger paws. But before you throw down gravel or set the stones, take the time to install a sand base for drainage at least 6 in. deep if you're building on clay. Then ley down landscaping fab- ric to prevent weed growth, You'll probably scoop out gravel along with the poop, so itll need replenishing every year. If you have enough space, the ultimate dog oasis fs a grassy area within the kennel. Several companies offer composite flooring materials for dog kennols. Tt definitely looks better than gravel and is easy to clean. But if your dog likes to chow things, its not a good choice— unless, of course, your vot does free surgery. Plan on a surfaced path to the kennel. If you just have grass, you'll soon bave a muddy path. All that mod ‘will get tracked into the house, Finally, dogs need protection from the elements. A doghouse isn’t mands- tory, but if you don’t provide one, you should at Jeast install a small roof and # windbreak. Dogs can withstand cold, Dut not cold and wind or rain, An cle- vated cot will get them off a freezing cold or searing hot floor. Even if you include 9 doghouse, provide other shaded areas in the kennel (landscape fabric stretched across the top works well) ‘When placing # doghouse, avoid the common DIY mistake of setting it in a corner (the roof is 8 perfect launching pad for a jump-over). Instead, locate it outside the kennel with an entrance hole cut through the fence. Or place it in the conter of the kennel. If you're stuck with a corner location, make the fence higher in that aree. to prevent jump-outs QUESTION Hole saw hassles | dread using hole saws in wood or metal. Wood takes forever, and metal dulls the teeth. fm also confused by the oiferent varieties—and the huge orice range. Which type should get? Is there a way to speed up the driling process? We talked to Matt Savarino, the hole saw expert at Lenox Tools, to get to the bottomn of your dilemma. Matt told us that most DiYers don’t need expensive hole saws. In fact, for occasional cuts in wood, he says the cheapest carbon stool saws work just fine (see Photot). But don’t try using them in metal~that'll destroy the saw teoth in seconds. But if you're cutting a hole in your steel door for a dead bolt, or cut lots of holes, step up to a bimetal hole saw. ‘The teoth are made from a harder steel than the shell, sa they last longer. Butt that doesn't mean they're indestruc- tible. Always provide lubrication when drilling into metal. Catting oil is best, and even ordinary motor oil is better than nothing (see Pheto 2). You can use bimetal saws to cut through all types of materials except ceram- ic, porcelain, granite and the like. For those, you need @ carbide-grit hole saw. 'Bven if you drill relief holes, hole saws take forever to rill through thick wood. Ifthe holes are loss than 1-1/2 in, in diameter. don’t bother with hole saws; uso spade bite. Hivotes In wooo The best way to cut holes faster isto oil elit holes fo exhaust wood chips and keep the blade cooler BA Hotes in mevaL Inmetal,abways use bimeta hole saws end keep the teeth sharper longer By using lubricating of 76 e200 thatamitynandyman.comQUESTION Fill big gaps before caulking {keep filing the controt joints in my concrete patio, but the caulk keeps peeling away trom both sides of the crack. What's going on and how can | fx it? The solution is to use a combination of backor rod ($2.50 te $4 for 20 ft. at home centers) and caulk, First remove the caulk that’s in the gap. For lotex caulk, pour caulk remover (such as Lift Off; about $6 at home centers and hardware stores) over the caulk, let it sit for two hours, then dig out the caulk with a stiff putty knife. For si or polyurethane caulk, use mineral spirits. If you're not sure what type of caulk you have, start with the caulk remover. For stubborn sections, give the remover more time to work, then continue scraping. You don’t have lo remove every last piece of caulk, especially if it’s at the bottom of the gap, but the top 1 in. of the crack needs to be cleaned off protty well. Use a backer rod with a diameter that’s 1/8 to 1/4 in. larg- er than the crack, Push tho rod into the gap go the top about 1/4 in, below the concrete surface. Fill the gap with caulk, them smooth the caulk with a plastic spoon. Be sure to use a caulk that's formulated for use with concrete (it'll BACKER ROD IS THE KEY say so on the label). Insert backer rod into the gap, then run a bead of caulk over the top. For a smooth, even bead, tool the caulk with a plastic spoon, ne 7B ane2o10 snatamilynangymenccen Pea ees Poy Tela sme Cer Lt TIGHeIS Puch AC esc uEUnn cart engine-driven vacuum mulcher gives ten times the lifting power, of mowers and many times the hailing capacity—up to 44 bushels EU CM nse MeCN Scar hurl ue eeiok) aaa RECRUIT sana all, tfolds up flat for easy storage, Many models to fit every budget and property size CALL FOR FREE INFORMATION KIT 1 -800-925-6733 or visit www.CycloneRake.comQUESTION Repack a stem seal ona street valve ‘The street-side valve at my water meter nas been chipping for years. tightened the stem nut, but lst leaks, The utility wants $40 to shut the water off. Can repack the stern withthe water on? ‘Yes, you can. But you have to close the valve first. The gate valve will keep water from gushing out of the stem when you repack the nut Buy Teflon packing cord at any hardware store or home center. You'll get some water spray once you loosen the packing nut, s0 move anything you care about away from the meter area, Most ald valves have rust and min- eral deposits in the gate valve's receiv. jing groove. That crud can jam the gate and damage the valve. So flush the valve before you crank down on the REPACK THE STEM handle. With the valve n the off position, loosen the packing nut and slide It toward the handle. “Then repack the stem with the Teflon packing cord. thetamiiynansyman.com nero 79 Vv Everyday Low dates f Ee SOUR Aenea v Huge Balcauroa ole Gis v Fast Shipping A ten cae, GOTO WWW.ROCKAUTO.COM ROCKAUTO, LLC (EST. 1999) &ORGANIZE YOUR LIFE are 1/3 of your wsable Hiring space. DRYLOK* Masonry Waterprooter transform your damp, useless space into usable space. Rated #1 Easy to apply Tintable to castom colors Guaranteed to stop water 1800-27 3235 | www.ugl.com COMMENT PEX wrangling Ina recent article (Feb. 10, p.13),| praised PEX tubing as a cheaper, easier alter- native fo copper pipe. A few readers wrote to say that | should have focused on CPVC plastic pipe instead of PEX. They have a good point: CPVC Is much ‘cheaper than PEX—and more important—daesn't require special, expensive tools. if your plumbing jobs are small ang infrequent, CPYC may be a better ‘option. But if you'll tackle any major plumbing projects In future years, | think buying a few PEX tools is a good long-term Investment. PEX is easier to install than CPVC and goes in at least twice as fast. And I'l happily spend $50 to $100 Con tools that save hours of labor and frustration. | COMMENT Flat panel TVs In the Feb. 10 issue (p. 50), we showed two guysholding a flat panet TV while a third person judged its placement, Many readers wrote in to tell us we were nuts. They sugnested cutting a template out of the box the ‘TWcame in and using thar to judge placement. They're right. Using three people to figure out the proper TV placement was overkil: Use the tern plate idea instead, But when it's time toheft the TV ento the wall bracket, get a buddy to help you. The pros ‘won't do it alone. Neither should you, 80 see2010 Gary Wentz, senior editor COMMENT Lead safety Lead-sate certifications used to apply only to painters. Not anyrrre. ‘Now, all contractors who disturb {ead paint during a repair or remodel In any home bullt before 1978 must ‘be EPA certified, That means you should ask the plumber, electrician and carpenter If they're certified before you hive them. The certifica~ tion process teaches contractors hhow to contain the work area, mink mize harmful dust and clean up thor- oughly. The certification costs $300 per year, Sot shouldn't adid much to your bill. And the extra cleanup charges should be minimal.C AR & Scnacee mapa ERE 7S | Replace your bent antenna Need to fix a bont or broken antenna? ‘That problem goes back as far as radios and marauding teonagers. TI é two most common styles are “pillar mounts,” which slide in and out of U top of door pillars, and “fixed masts, nonretractable ones that are mounted ‘on fenders. (We'll discuss fixing power antennas in a future issue.) Bath styles are easy to fix yourself. Start the repair by buying a replacement unit (less than $20) from an auto parts store or ‘antennamastsRus.com (920-686-0644). New pillar-mount antennas come with the coaxial cables already attached. So after you unscrew and pull out the old unit, cut the old cable and use il to fish the new cable through the pillar to the radio. (Splicing the old ae cable to the new one isn’t recommend= Se ed; you may get radio interference.) But be careful! If the splice comes apart inside the pillar, you'll have to remove the pillar trim to fish the new cable. Form a hook in the old cable loop a picture-hanging wire through and then wrap it with tape for addod insurance. You'll have to romove the car radio to hook up the new cable. For about $5, you can buy removal insiruc- tions from carstereoremaval.com, Fixed-mast anten- nas are much easier new mast to replace. Buy a universal kit (S15) from any auto paris store, Just unscrew the bent mast with an adjustable wrench and instal) the new mast. You may have (o install fan adapter (includ- ed in the kit} to match the Uwead ao PILLAR MOUNT FIXED MAST Fish the new cable thraugh the door pillar by using Replace the old base stud with the matching one the ald one to pull it through, Securely splice togeth- from the kit. Then screw in the new mast. erthe new cable tothe old one, Anticon B08 UNGAR -Phtgachy TOM B2 yu2090 shetamitynendyman.comNissan Motors is headed to the finish line with the Leaf—its all-electric, zeco-emissions car, The Leaf promis. es to 200m you (o and from work and around own for about 100 miles before it needs recharging (top speed 90 mph). You can recharge it at home with 4 220-volt outlet in four to eight hours. Or, you can charge it (80 per cont} at a quick-charge station in about 30 minntes. Ultimately, there'll be charging stations that offer ‘The batteries In electric and hybrid vehicles. Under the car to free up trunk space. a4 electricity in liew of gasoline, A built-in feature will tell you where the nearest recharging station is. So when it runs out of juice, just zip it into a station, connect it to a quick charger and get 4 latte while you check your e-mail. Want to know how many mites you fhave left in the battery? Just look at the dash readouts—it spits out the infor mation reachable area,” not “remaining charge” like some hybrids. Nissan packed the Leaf with lots of take up a lot of space. Nissan put them Get “wachable area” power readings rignt on the dasha new concept in fuel gauges. gecky IT features. Let’s say you plug iv in at home and set it to slow-charge (cight hours). But something comes up and you need it to quick-charge. Simple. Call the car from your cen phone and switch it to quick-charge Or, if it's hotter than blazes outside and you dread toasting your buns when you open the door, turn on the AIC from your phone. The Leaf is officially categorized as a medium-size hatchback. But that doesn’t mean it’s a squash box. It seals five adults (vou read that rght—adults). And Nissan didn't get that interior room by stuffing the bat- tery in the unk, The battery was put under the car becouse, duh nothing else was using that space Besides freeing up the trunk, that lowers the center of gravity, giving you more stability in sums To walts, Nissen chopped the head off every eergy hog it found. They reduced aerody. namic drag with a hood that splits he airflow and directs it toward the headlights. Then the keadlight lens- es spin the air so it ows outward away from the side mirrors, Speaking of headlights. you won't find any energy-gulping halogens in this baby. Nissan developed LED headlamps that throw as much light as halogens but use 50 percent less power. ‘The Nissan Leaf debuts this fal Nissan hasn't announced a list price ‘yet, but the company promises it will ibe priced in the same range as other family sedans. For more information, g0 to nissan-zeroemission.com.—) 5 = 2 5 Ea gz FS I ; FS S Fre = 3 > 5 5 = S 5 = ee ae er er teen es oa cr ors ad ae Smarter towing The 2011 Chevrolet Silverado with — the Duramax 6.61 diesch can haul and tow more weight than any other vehicle in its class. Cram in up to 6,338 Ibs of your ol LPs or tow up to 16,000 Ibe. of your motherin-law's furni- ng all. that {10 a. safe. stop Chovy added inteltigent exhaust braking, Exhaust braking has been around forever; truckers call ita “Jake brake.” But its always boen so noisy that some states ban its use at night. Chovy figured out a quicter way to use the exhaust pressure. Plus, the braking system is smart. When ased with eraise control, tll auto- matically slow the vehicle on downhilh grades. You don’t even have to touch the pedal. Exhaust Repaira headlight If your car has # headlight that pus owt about as much light as a flashlight with weak batteries, we've got @ fix for you. Most DIYers think they've got a bad headlight switch or a bad connec: tion in the power feed, But most ddim headlights are caused b corroded ground wire, Just trace 8 brake overheating, To safely tow more weight, tho 2500HD snd 3500HD models offor fan intelligent trailer anti-sway fea- When the systom detects trailer ¥, it either applios the trailor's electrig brakes or reduces engine speed. depending on the amount of sway and other driving conditions, the wiring harness from the back of each headlight assembly and see where it connects to the vehicle body. Clean it as described below. ‘with a wire brush and reassemble it Coat the parts with dielectric grease to slow down corrosion. Disassemble the connection. clean tt |@: SOLATUBE ree Innovation in Daylighting, “The smarter way to orighten dark rooms. Discover the amazing transformation rilions of people have experienced. Only Solatube* Daylighting Systerns Use innovative breakthrough technology to bring natural ight into vitualy any room in onty two BE) 4 hours. Brighten your day. a ae Get the facts at www.ilovedaylight.com a> a oF call (888) 245-0945 * . Tee Pree Mee ele (ieee 3 PS EF Fast Shipping e Low Price Guarantee = www.pexsupply.com Real People. Leal Service. Com www.pexsupply.com 888.757.4774 ‘The tester displays the actual CCA ceadout as well as a green or red ‘pass/fail light, Then test the starter and charging system following the tester directions. New battery tester Testing the condition of your Daitery and charging system with a digital multimeter works OK. But the voltage test alone doesn't tell the whole story, You really need to perform a load or capacitance test on the battery to determine its real condition. But until now, those testers have cost well over $300. 7 Solar, @ manufacturer of bat- tery chargers and testing equip ment, has come ovt with a roa sondblyy peiced digital tester (No. BA7; $69 from ajvimexchan- dise.com) that performs @ tuine battery load test, a starter drow assessment and an alterna tor check (photeabove). The tester works on automotive, conven- tional and maintenance-free bat- tories, as well as on the newer ‘absorbed glass mat" (AGM), gel cell and marine starting and run- ning batteries. 1t doesn’t do everything the $300 madels do, but it's a reasonebly priced solu tion for most DIY applications. BB hne2010 tmetamitynandvmenccomWorn stabilizer bushings and end Jinks can cause horrible clunking noises when you drive over bumps. Unfortunately, there's no good way to check them by feel {they're loaded with vehicle weight) or by sight. So you have to start replacing parts luntil you find the noisy culprit | __ Stat with the stabilizer bushings ‘They're the most likely candidates, | and they're also the cheapest and easiest to replace (about $10 a pair) Just remove the bushing brackets (one or two bolts each) and slip on the new bushings. But if you've replaced those and are ready to jackie the end links ($40 each), stop! Removing the rusted nuts can easily turn into an all-day affair. Since you'll save about $100 labor by doing the job yourself, it’s worth getting one of these tool kits: Lisle No, 34110 (815) for Ford Taurus, Sable and Windstar vehicles. Or Lisle No. 33820 (523; both models available at sidiscounttools.com) for additional Ford. GM and Chrysler vebi- les. For more infor- mation on Lisle tools, visit listecorp.com. Once the avis (two per link) are off, the rest of the job is a piece of cake (photo ler) LOOSEN THE NUT Soak the nut and stus with penetrating ol “Then use the soeciah tool co hold the Balt stud while you put ait ‘your force into break- ing the not loose. Then Use the holding toot Banda metric box end wrench to finish the Jo. cmiiynenaymancom nese 88 Incredibly strong and ideal for indoor and outdoor applications Bonds wood, stone, metal, ceramic foam, glass and much more! foe (GORILLA TOUGHT)Keeps Paint Out. Keeps Lines Sharp: FgTape® sth only painter's tape tested with PaintBloce Technology. Pantlock {forms a mlre-bamer that seals the edges ote tpe, preventing pan lee. Vit Frogrape.com to seo PanBlockh action, get paling tins and more! ROGTAPE eos Paint Out. Keope Lines Shar Frogtape.com 877-FROSTAPE Ta7e-482) * Turn your deck or patio into _a beautiful outdoor room! Ges from sunroom to breezy ‘sreenroom...in just seconds! Easy-Slide flor-to-celling ‘windows with screens! ‘complete, easy-to-assemble cones wih Meet a ec tern Savings Code: or call: 203-557-2660 ‘SunPorch Dept. 2660, 495 Post Road East, Westport, CT 06880 ” Am | getting scammed? I need a new alternator, and | the shop recommends changing the serpentine belt, belt tensioner and idler roller at the same time. They look fine to me, and the belt isn't squealing, Am I being scammed? Nope. Your mechanic is | actually looking after your | best interests. Belts. tensioners and idler rollers rarely last the life ofthe vebicle. The additional labor for the idler roller is minimal (about $10), and the labor for the ton- sioner usually cuns about $50. 1¢ | you plan to keep the vehicle, yow'll save money in the long run by replacing these parts now. worn ew | | | (i i Examine idler rollers for wear pat- teins. f you see wear, they're not spinning freel Cell phone and other stuff holder [flipped out when 1 saw this cool Hoininger 1072 CommuteMate Coll-Cup holder ($19 for two at amazon.com). 1's ! ‘made from non- porous foam and holds most cell phones. Just pop it into your cup holder and Joad it up, 90 e201 tne tamilynanayman-com moro recCheck serpentine belts for wear Starting in 2000, some carmakers hogan installing a new kind of ser pentine belt made of ethylene propy- lene diene wonomer (EPDM). The new belts last much longer and han- dle the heat better than the older neoprene formulations. That means fewer belt changes over the life of your vehicle. In fact, EPDM can go almost 100,000 miles between | changes! But since EPDM doesn’t crack like the old neoprene belts you can’t doa visual check. The only way to gnige belt wear is with—you guessed ita belt gauge (photo below). Divers can get a free belt wear gauge at gatesbeltwear-com IF its time to chuck your EPDM bolt. replace it with the same kind. Don't be fooled by low-price belts They're usually made from neo- prone. Also, if your car has a neo: prene belt and it's cracked, consider replacing it with EPDM. Yes, it's that much better. Screw and bolt getter-outter Every DIYer worth his salt has stripped out bis share of screws and bolts. That's when you search for the écill bits and screw extractors. Even | iF you can find them, do you know | what size hole to drill for each oxtrace tor? Neither do I. That's where Dri Out screw and bolt extractors (Alden AN-6207P six-piece set; $40 at 7eorners.com) come in handy. ‘They're built with the drill bit and screw extractor as one piece. Put your variable-speed drill in reverse and start drilling the pilot hole. ao Lay the wear gauge In the ribs on tne bet ang run your finger across ther. If ‘the gauge sits flush with the top of the ribs, the belt Is worn out. When the hole is deep enough to tap, push the threaded collet por- tion into the hole and start up the rill, 1 will tap the threads for you ‘These extractors don’t work every time, but your old anes won't work atall if you can't find them. Thatamiiynenaymancem anczoa 92 WHEN YOUR NAME DEPENDS ON IT DEPEND ON OURS. = Sydnee Purdy" rollers to load well, release evenly and always deliver a smooth, lint-free finish, After 80 years, we've eared ‘our reputation. And we can help ‘build yours, purdycorp.com/rollers 800.547.0780READER PROJECTS Sharing your skills yn ‘When it comes to making a difference, DIYers can contribute what others can't: their skills, Know-how and tools. If you or someone you know has given hands-on help to a worthy cause, we want to hear about it, If we choose your story as the contest winner, we'll send $500 to you or the organization of your choice. To enter, go to thefamilyhandy: man.com/myproject. An access ramp to take pride in When the Music Center in Brattleboro, VT, needed a wheelchair access ramp, 17-year- ald Evan Jolinson took charge of the entire project. He handled everything from fundraising and planning to rounding up the volunteers, who stacked tons of gravel landscape block and pavers. A wood rump ‘might have been easier, but Evan had good reasons to choose masonry: It will last forever. looks groat and is perfect for a volunteer labor force. As Evan puts it, “Carpentry requires experience, but any: ‘ne can shovel gravel.” The project helped Evan earn bis Eagle Scout medal Building and listening in New Orleans Mark Hinton has been to New Orleans four times since Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005. Working with his church group, under the supervision of Habitat for Humanity, Mark has helped turn ruined houses into like-new homes. But he and his fellow volun- teers have apent a lot of time listening, too: “Sometimes we would put down our tools and just listen to people. Everyone had a tragic story and needed to tell it.” Mark plans another trip to New Orleans this summer. Nosbenuons Coast docar sis gon (ET) ona Ey aaeeens oh Coe Stems come eve tne any omer nna fue GARY WENTZ: At ecto MARY SCH FEESFast, perfect circles Cutting perfect circles is easy with a band saw—as long as you take a half hour to build yourself a cutling jig. T've cut circles with radiuses ranging from a fow inches to a couple of feet. The only limit is the distance from the fence to the saw blade. Use any 3/4-in. plywood to make the jig, and attach a run: ner to the underside that fits in the band saw’s miter gauge slot. That will hold everything stesdy while you turn the actual circle stock through the blade. Then make yourself an auxiliary fence from another piece of 3/4-In. plywood as shown. Send the jig through the blade to create the saw kerf, ATTACH THE RUNNER Cut 3/4-in, plywood t6 16 x 24 In, Draw centerines on both sides. then give and pin the runner to the bottom. Send the je through the blade until you reach the centerline, then clamp the auniliary fence to the figsaw fence. 96 by Travis Larson edltors@thetarilyhandyman.com Checkout out NEW Web sitet w AUXILIARY FENCE This fence provides a positive stop at the lig Eentertine and keeps the ig from tipping during the eut. then shut off the saw when the blade reaches the centerline and lock the fence about 1/8 in. away from SE the jig. Clamp the auxiliary fence to the hand saw fence with the stop against the edge of the jig. Hold it slightly above tho jig so the jig will slide easily beneath it. The auxiliary fence not only stops the jig at the right spot for turning circles but also keops the jg from tiaping up from the band saw table, siting is simple, You'll need to choose narrow blades for # small citeles. Push the jig with the mounted cutting blank until you reach tho stop and then just iwist the blank through the blade. You'll have a small amount of cleanup to do where the cut starts and stops. You're done. Arcon MARCIA ROEPRE Prep, TOM FENENGA aot nh EZ AFINISH THE JIG ‘Tap a nail through the hole, then flip the jig over. Drill a hole In the rmidale of the blank and prop the clcie stock over the nall shanT-bar assembly lifts Ever wonder what makos « woodworker tick? Here's ier. the editor in chiot: “Those T-bars are one of my happiest discoveries ns a woodworker. They're just 5-in.-wide pieces of 3/4in. plywood face-glued together, with another 5-in, piace scrowod on the bot- tom for a base. Any larger assembly { do happens on the T-bars bocause they liftoff the table. I's easy to drive in scrows, check tho project for squiareness and tighton clamps anywhere around the odgos. 1 work alone most ofthe time, and the T:-bars te my oxtro of bands. eae i MP Sexes | Our Most Advanced, Energy-Efficient Electric Water Heaters hheem air-source heat pump extracts the heat from warm air, intensifies the heat with compressor, delivers the heat tothe water. FAM) amare Huet ‘Over TWICE the efficiency of standard electric water heaters + Rheem heat pump technology © for superb energy-effciency + LED touch pad con + Easy to install! ” + Standard connections + 40 & 50 Gallon capacities Easy-off + Fast first hour recovery sanding sleeves I couldn't live without my spindle Vist ws toteyl wremaecrtiyIh wor sander for super-smooth sanding of aia ead inside curvos on projects, but for bizes, Thats because twas dfcut lo tighten the bolt enough to expand the rubber drum, so the sanding sleeve often slid up and down the drum while 1 was sanding. And if 1 managed to tighten up the bolt enough, it was nearly impossible to loosen it again. Last week, a hand screw miraculously jumped onto the sander table and solved the problem tightened it around the drum and ousily twisted the bolt. Hallelujah! 9B anes09 tmatemitynansyman.camADER PHOTO | Clamping blocks Corner clamping blocks for assem- bling picture frames aren't a new ivles: woodworking magazines have | shown veriations for yoars. But these ‘are among the best I've seen, ‘The holes span the corner, keoping the clamps from sticking to the frames when the glue squeezes out. Proven design allows you! to make ful size stile and rail frames on your router table for raised panels, | plywood panels, even glass panel doors. *Interlacking Profle An Pane Groove Cut In One Pabs + Sis Salah Bi To Grange From Cuting Stes To Cutng al + No Bra Components Are Requiret Far Glass Pane Dos wood Panels roles To Match Yo it Availabe For Undoratzed eae dl ay eee een acl pee Macc Rep ane I Counterweights for lathes athagahallastaiia ehalPO, ober Sally Wit yous staring aaatae aud roughing but cabalaeselatie That's why just about ony. wood fumer hes s (ube of playgedinad and on tho shalf below for stability, But

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