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38 Articles

WORKING THE LAND

When I would arrive at the farm, my cousins would say “the city kid is here,” even though I was as suburban as a kid could be. As preteens, my pals and I played football on manicured lawns and slurped Orange Julius at the mall. But to my cousins on the family dairy farm in northern Wisconsin, I was all skyscrapers and polished shoes. I loved those day trips. Within minutes of stepping out of my dad’s Ford Country Squire station wagon, I’d be riding a pony, hunting squirrels in the woods with a .22 or playing hide-and-seek in the cornfield. By the time I was 14, summer trips to the farm became work outings, and they lasted for days. Baling hay and stacking it in the barn, milking the cows,…

WORKING THE LAND

facebook.com/thefamilyhandyman pinterest.com/family_handyman youtube.com/thefamilyhandyman instagram.com/familyhandyman tiktok.com/@familyhandyman WE LOVE YOUR PROJECTS! Inspiration is a two-way street. We learn a lot from your projects and want to share a few recent submissions we love. WALKING STICKS TO AID AND INSPIRE “My hobby for the past 35 years has been fashioning hiking/walking sticks and canes/shillelaghs from downed trees or branches, mostly oak or beech,” says Dennis Daulton. “My father was a strong man who depended on the use of a cane, which may be a stigma to some. When I was looking for a hobby, I wanted one that would make others feel better about themselves.” And that’s how Daulton began his craft. He has even built sticks for Boston Celtics legend Bob Cousy, who took one to the White House when he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Daulton gives his walking…

NEATER PAINT EDGES

Before you bust out the roller to quickly paint large swaths of wall, you need to carefully and accurately “cut in” around trim. Paintbrushes often feel cumber-some for this job if the brush is too wide or the handle too long. The Purdy XL Cub is a compact edging and cut-in brush. It has angled 2-or 2-1/2-in.-wide nylon and polyester bristles, which work well for all paints and stains. The compact size is the real draw—at just over 8 in. long, it feels like an extension of your hand. I put the XL Cub to work on a couple of rooms in my house to see how it performed. The brush worked as advertised on drywall. The bristles were easy to control and held plenty of paint for the finicky cut-in…

NEATER PAINT EDGES

STEAM TO POWER THROUGH DIRT

Why a steam mop? Steam easily breaks down dirt from hard floors and kills bacteria without chemicals. The Bissell PowerFresh Deluxe 1806 is easy to set up and user-friendly. It comes with both a microfiber soft pad and an abrasive pad, both machine washable, as well as two fragrance discs. To use the mop, just add water to the tank, plug it in and turn it on. The fragrance discs slip into the compartment above the mop head. You can use a whole disc, a half or none. I used this mop on tile and hardwood floors, sweeping first. The Bissell did everything I hoped it would do, even grabbing all the pet hair the broom didn’t get. A detachable spot-cleaning brush with tough bristles worked really well on the most…

STEAM TO POWER THROUGH DIRT

GROWING GARDEN HOSE

Most garden hoses are heavy and a hassle to store. This expandable hose from TheFitLife collapses when drained, so it is compact, lightweight and easy to store. It has a triple-layer latex inner hose, wrapped in a woven elastic fabric made to expand to three times its drained size when in use. With a built-in shutoff valve at the end, heavy-duty brass fittings connect the hose to the water supply and an included eight-setting spray nozzle. The 25-ft. version measures 28 ft. when full and is just under 9 ft. when drained, so it easily coils up into a small garden pot. Because expandable hoses require water pressure to expand, they don’t expand without an attachment and might not work well with a high-flow sprinkler or high-flow nozzle. Also, when you turn…

GROWING GARDEN HOSE

NO-FRILLS SANDER

If you need a random orbital sander only occasionally and don’t want to spend a fortune, the Ryobi RS290G should be a good fit for you. It is comfortable, nicely made and performs well. I tested this sander on hardwoods and plywood with hardwood veneer. I worked through different grits to see if the sander would effectively remove scratches from the previous grit. I also looked for ease of handling—but what does that mean? Some random orbital sanders pull your hand around. I want a “floating” feel so I can direct the sander instead of forcing it, which leaves deeper scratches. As is true with any random orbital sander, I had to work a bit to find the sweet spot where it floats. Once I did, its operation was smooth and…

NO-FRILLS SANDER

MADE BY WOMEN FOR WOMEN

Handyma’am Goods is a company owned and operated by women, and it has the “versatile clothing” thing down to a science. From coats to coveralls to aprons that double as dresses (“draprons”), everything the business makes is functional and fashionable. Handyma’am has full-length overalls that are durable and comfortable, and they look good. Each shoulder has an adjustable self-tie closure instead of the usual sliding buckle, so it’s easy to get the right fit. If they’re a little long, you can just roll up the cuffs. Other useful features are the extra-deep front pockets (finally—pocket space!), a key loop, a side leg utility pocket and a pen slot. “Shortalls” are also available for working in warm weather. These overalls are made with 100% cotton and come in black, olive green and natural.…

MADE BY WOMEN FOR WOMEN

WASH & WAX IN ONE

With the convenience of drive-through car washes, it’s been more than 20 years since I washed and waxed a car by hand. Recently, I grabbed a jug of Armor All Ultra Shine Wash & Wax at the auto parts store to give it a try. Ultra Shine is a concentrated combo of car wash soap and wax in one. It combines a proprietary blend of cleaners, surface lubricants and real carnauba wax to deliver a streak-free shine. Ultra Shine can be applied with a car-washing foam gun or a rag and bucket. It’s available in either a 16-oz. or 1-gallon bottle. Armor All recommends just under 1-1/2 oz. of soap concentrate per gallon of water. I was concerned about the meager suds, but I hosed off my truck and then scrubbed my…

WASH & WAX IN ONE

HIGH-PERFORMANCE HEAT GUN

Heat guns handle a wide range of jobs—removing flooring and paint, thawing frozen pipes, etc. The Wagner Furno 700 Heat Gun features an LCD display, push-button controls and six fan settings, including a cooldown mode. Its 1,500-watt heating element puts out 5,100 BTUs with temperature settings from 125 to 1,300 degrees. It also includes a glass protector and flare attachment. I love that the gun stands up on its own, making it handy for heat-shrink tubing, bending PVC or running the cooldown mode. With the gun set to 950 degrees, it’ll quickly lift layers of old paint, making the paint easy to scrape off. I also used it to bend composite decking. For this I used a much lower temperature, bending the decking carefully while heating the entire bend area. Setting…

HIGH-PERFORMANCE HEAT GUN

FUN-SIZE FLASHLIGHT

As a kid out trick-or-treating, I thought “fun-size” seemed like a rip-off. When it comes to a go-anywhere flashlight, tiny and portable are sought-after features. I can drop the NEBO Torchy flashlight in my pocket and barely know it’s there. This light delivers 1,000 lumens of LED light and has five modes: high, medium, low, strobe and turbo. A magnet in the base lets me stick the flashlight to any ferrous metal for hands-free use. Or I can clip the light to my cap. Another big plus: I never have to buy batteries. The lithium-ion battery is rechargeable via the USB power cord and has a magnetic base. My NEBO flashlight is also impact and water resistant. You can find one at home centers, hardware stores and online for about $40.…

FUN-SIZE FLASHLIGHT

PORTABLE & AFFORDABLE GRILL/PELLET SMOKER

As the only one in my family who loves grilled and smoked meats, I’ve been keeping my eye on the portable pellet grill category. The Z Grills Cruiser 200A is a portable wood pellet grill capable of smoking, baking, roasting, searing, braising, barbecuing or char-grilling whatever fare you desire. The tabletop-size grill features a foolproof digital temperature controller, automatic auger system and an 8-lb. pellet hopper. The Cruiser’s three handles, lockable chamber and durable powder-coated finish make it perfect for bringing to campgrounds, sporting events or backyard get-togethers. The Cruiser has 200 sq. in. of cooking area, which sounds like a lot, but a six-pack of brats and three kabobs fill up the cooking space. Another important note: The Z Grills Cruiser needs a 110V outlet to operate. A portable power…

PORTABLE & AFFORDABLE GRILL/PELLET SMOKER

ALL-PURPOSE ADHESIVE FOR SOLID REPAIRS

Barge All-Purpose Cement is a professional-strength adhesive that can be used on a wide range of materials, from leather to rubber to plastic to wood. Barge Cement is used mainly by shoe repair shops. I discovered it many years ago while working in a theater as a prop artisan. We used Barge Cement on anything we wanted to permanently stick together. I’ve since used Barge Cement to glue the rubber soles back onto my favorite pair of shoes. I’ve repaired many leather work gloves I wasn’t quite ready to part with. I’ve also used it to glue rubber pads on the bottoms of furniture feet. There’s one drawback to Barge Cement: It’s highly toxic. When you work with it, you need adequate ventilation, eye protection, rubber gloves and a respirator. If you’re…

ALL-PURPOSE ADHESIVE FOR SOLID REPAIRS

EDITORS’ NOTE We were skeptical about this hint, but when we tried it, it worked so well that we bought more rollers! PORTABLE ROLLER STAND Ripping a long board on a small portable table saw can be downright dangerous without extra support. If you don’t have a helper to control the board, clamp a paint roller with a short-nap sleeve to a sawhorse as a temporary roller stand. Tighten the clamp firmly to prevent slipping. It can be used with other tools, too. As you move this setup to different tools, simply adjust the roller height as needed. WILLIAM A. GOLDBACH PLASTIC BAG DISPENSER Storing and reusing plastic bags is easy if you make a dispenser from a 2-liter soda bottle. Cut off the top and bottom with a razor knife, trimming any jagged edges so you…

BRING YOUR ROOF TO LIFE Green roofs have been around since at least the time of the Vikings, who laid birch bark and sod on top of boards to keep drafts out of their homes. The modern incarnation of these roofs began in 1960s Europe. Now they are sprouting up everywhere, thanks to their aesthetics, sustainability and long-term cost savings. Is a green roof, also called a living roof, right for you? “Germany started looking at green roofs as a way to cut down on the spread of wildfires,” says Jim Mumford, president and resident horticulturist at Good Earth Plant Company in San Diego. “And then it came across the Atlantic.” Today, Europe is still the leader in green roofs. But several U.S. cities are embracing the benefits and giving incentives to homeowners…

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

How Much Maintenance Is Required? Green roofs do require regular maintenance, such as removing weeds and checking drains to ensure no water is pooling. Mumford’s company performs maintenance four times a year. “I think a homeowner actually has better roof maintenance as a result of us being up there on a semi-frequent basis,” he says. “Otherwise, nobody goes on the roof.” Where Can I Have a Green Roof? “Pretty much anywhere but Antarctica,” says Mumford. However, depending on your location, it may be more complex. In drier places, green roofs need irrigation. And in Florida, they must be designed to withstand hurricanes. They’re especially popular in the Pacific Northwest and Canada. Does a Green Roof Have to Be Flat? No. They need a slight slope so water doesn’t pool. On pitched roofs they feature retention…

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

SMART WATER ASSISTANT

With one smart plumbing device under your kitchen sink, you can monitor all your home’s plumbing fixtures and water usage. When you connect the new Kohler H2Wise device to your hot and cold water pipes, it monitors water pressure, learns your wateruse habits and looks for unusual changes through the day. The Kohler device uses technology developed by Phyn, a subsidiary of consumer electronics giant Belkin International. Phyn developed a leak-detection technology that uses ultrasonic sensors to sample a plumbing system’s pressure 240 times every second. The goal is to empower homeowners with information that can help them reduce water use and prevent major damage if a leak occurs. As the Kohler H2Wise runs its diagnostic tests, it can alert you of water leaks—even small ones. It can also inform you of…

SMART WATER ASSISTANT

HIDDEN-SLOT SCREWS

Andrew Klein, inventor and woodworker, wanted a better-looking screw, so he created one himself. He now sells his hidden-slot screws under the PIKA Screw name. As a craftsman, Klein has a passion for building unique products and inspiring others to do the same. He built a striking workbench for TV host Adam Savage, and the bench includes his two-speed, gear-driven Twin Turbo vise, among other features. Klein’s PIKA Screws are designed for use on woodworking projects, to provide a sleek, minimalist look. Offered in two sizes, PIKA Screws are made of 400-series magnetic stainless steel. Each screw’s slot is invisible until you depress the spring-loaded insert, revealing the unique three-sided screw slot. A special screwdriver allows you to insert and remove these screws. The full-size screws are 1-1/4-8, and the PIKA Screw…

HIDDEN-SLOT SCREWS

The best part of gardening is being around growing things. Whether plants, flowers, fruits or vegetables, I love watching them all grow, and of course eating food I’ve grown myself. As a lifelong vegetarian, I try to get the freshest vegetables possible during the winter months. I love waking up each morning and finding something fresh and fragrant growing right there in my kitchen. Many manufacturers make gardens of all sizes, designs and functionality. Its design drew me to Rise. I love vertical gardens, but I didn’t want that in my small kitchen. I liked the sleek, modern look Rise offers in all its gardens, including the Personal Garden I tried. I was happy with the compact size of the Rise Personal Garden (18 in. long, weighing a mere 10 lbs.) and…

SMART, POWERED WINDOW SHADES

Smart technology is applied to a whole lot of things in your home that really don’t need smarts. An internet-connected trash can or juicer? A smart salt shaker? I don’t understand. Smart window shades, however, are one of the smartest ideas out there. You can power a bedroom’s shades for bedtime or as a wake-up call. Add privacy to any room when desired, even if you’re not in it. And make large or hard-to-reach window coverings respond to your needs. Smart and powered window shades let you take control of your home. That’s smart. The shade part of powered window shades is easy; the power part takes some thinking. Windows don’t have electrical outlets, and nobody wants an extension cord running from the top of the window to the nearest outlet. Two…

SMART, POWERED WINDOW SHADES

BUILD A GREENHOUSE

Here in the Upper Midwest, the gardening season is short, typically May through September. By building a greenhouse, we can harness the sun’s rays to let plants thrive as early as March and extend harvest into late fall. A greenhouse is also a great place to store less hardy plants during harsh winters. Even if you live in a more temperate region, a greenhouse will create a perfect climate for plants, protecting them from temperature swings, storms and pests. We built our greenhouse from cedar, which weathers beautifully, and polycarbonate sheets, which dif fuse the sunlight and give even exposure to all the plants. SCAN THIS CODE TO WATCH US BUILD THIS AMAZING GREENHOUSE. WHAT IT TAKES TIME COST SKILL LEVEL About a week $8,000 to $10,000 Intermediate TOOLS Circular saw, miter saw, table saw, reciprocating saw,…

BUILD A GREENHOUSE

MAKE A TEMPLATE FOR TRUSSES

REPEAT PARTS WITH A TEMPLATE Make a template to accurately cut the rafters and assemble the trusses to ensure they’re all identical. We built a simple 2x4 frame on a pair of sawhorses and fastened a piece of sheathing to the top. Be sure to build the frame to the exact span of the walls, then draw a line up from the center point to locate the ridge miter. We fastened a block 3-1/2 in. up from the corner on each side of the template at a 45-degree angle. With this setup, we could accurately mark and make all the necessary cuts before assembly. BUILD THE TRUSSES After making the cuts, place the parts of the truss back on the template, line them up and fasten the peak together with a screw. Then…

MAKE A TEMPLATE FOR TRUSSES

BUILT-IN POTTING BENCH

1 START WITH A LEDGER Fasten cedar 2x4s to the studs inside the greenhouse so the top of one 2x4 is 34 in. from the ground. Level it across and then fasten two more 2x4s to create the ends of the bench. Fasten the 2x4 front of the bench to the end pieces. Next fasten 2x4 stretchers between the front and the back 2x4s to complete the frame of the bench. 2 ADD BRACES Add a 2x4 on the bottom of the bench where braces will be fastened. Cut a 45-degree angle at each end of a 2x4 to make a brace about 40 in. long from point to point (trim the brace to fit). Then fasten the brace from the underside of the bench to one of the studs. We spaced three…

BUILT-IN POTTING BENCH

SIMPLE GARDENING BENCH

When you get into serious gardening, you need a sturdy bench where you can perform all your potting chores. I designed this one using cedar 2x4s and deck boards. All you need to do is cut the parts to length and assemble. Your bench can be ready for use in just a few hours. If you want to save a little money, use pressure-treated lumber instead of cedar. WHAT IT TAKES TIME COST SKILL LEVEL Half day $200 Beginner TOOLS Miter saw, drill/driver, handsaw, quick clamp 1 BUILD THE FRAMES After cutting your parts to length, assemble the top and shelf frames by attaching the short frame members (A) to the front and back frame members (B) using 3-in. screws. Use a block for even spacing. 2 MAKE THE LEGS Each L-shaped leg has two parts: a front and…

SIMPLE GARDENING BENCH

MILL AND DRY LUMBER YOURSELF

If there’s one thing more satisfying than building something with wood, it’s building something with lumber you milled and dried yourself. You don’t need a giant band saw mill to do that. All you need is a milling attachment for your chain saw. Attachments come in several styles and sizes to suit various saws and sizes of stock. WHAT IT TAKES TIME COST SKILL LEVEL 1 log per day Varies Intermediate MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES Logs, 4x4s, log supports, wedges, stickers, corrugated roofing, chaps, headgear, face shield, gloves, Anchorseal, rake to keep work area clean TOOLS Chain saw with a 25-to 30-in. bar $1,400 Mini edging milling attachment $30 Frame-style milling attachment $250 EZ Rail straightedge $250 MEET THE EXPERT CHAD BEATY IS A MASTER TECHNICIAN AND AN IN-HOUSE CHAIN SAW EXPERT AT NORTHERN TOOL + EQUIPMENT.…

MILL AND DRY LUMBER YOURSELF

MINI EDGING MILLING ATTACHMENT

1 SECURE THE LOG This edging attachment operates with your saw in a vertical position. Roll the log up onto smaller logs so the chain doesn’t dig into the ground. Use a log peavey to roll the big logs onto the smaller ones. Wedge the log into position so it doesn’t shift as you work. 2 INSTALL THE MILLING ATTACHMENT Carefully read the instructions for your specific attachment, and then fasten the attachment to your saw’s bar. Three setscrews secure this one to the saw’s bar. 3 ATTACH THE STRAIGHTEDGE For this attachment, you need to fasten only one 2x4 to the top of the log. “Use the straightest 2x4 you can find for this. The 2x4 acts as a guide, so the straighter the 2x4, the straighter your cut will be,” says Chad Beaty…

MINI EDGING MILLING ATTACHMENT

FRAME-STYLE MILLING ATTACHMENT

1 SECURE THE LOG Start by blocking your log to keep it stationary while you’re milling. A few well-placed wedges will do the trick. It is also helpful to roll the log onto sturdy blocking to make a more comfortable working height. 2 INSTALL THE MILLING ATTACHMENT Carefully read the installation instructions for your specific attachment, then bolt it onto your chain saw. You attach this type by tightening steel pads at both ends of the bar. The attachment features a push handle and tip guard. 3 ATTACH THE STRAIGHTEDGE A flat, straight carriage is essential to getting a flat first cut. Here we’re using the EZ Rail system that has leveling screws and pawls to hold it in place. Now is the time to get some wedges ready to keep the kerf open while…

FRAME-STYLE MILLING ATTACHMENT

Once you’ve cut your logs, it’s time to exercise patience. The rule of thumb for airdrying lumber is one year of drying for each inch of board thickness. Buy a moisture meter so you can check your lumber’s moisture content. Kiln-dried lumber is dried to about 7% moisture content. For air-dried lumber, look to get down to 12% or less. At that point, you can let it acclimate in your house or shop for a couple of weeks before further dimensioning. 1 CREATE A BASE Make a base using 4x4s. Beaty says, “The stack doesn’t need to be perfectly level, but use mason’s line to ensure that the 4x4s are in the same plane.” 2 START THE STACK Place the first layer of boards. Set “stickers” on top, spacing them no farther than 12…

D0-IT-YOURSELF SOLAR

The sun has been sharing its energy with us for a long time, and we should be utilizing it! You can start small—you don’t have to cover your entire roof. A compact off-grid solar array is a fantastic solution for RVs and campers, and it can be an easy way to run power to an outbuilding. A small solar array can provide convenient power to a remote location, such as our greenhouse, and it will reduce your carbon footprint. You can even expand the array as your needs grow. WHAT IT TAKES TIME COST SKILL LEVEL 2 days $2,000 to $3,000 Beginner TOOLS Cordless drill, socket set, heavy-duty lug crimpers, multimeter, basic electrical tools, specific tools for solar installation. The 200W PV panels shown above are $220 each from Rich Solar. SCAN THIS CODE TO SEE THE SOLAR…

D0-IT-YOURSELF SOLAR

TOOLS WITH HORSEPOWER

Some of my favorite tools don’t fit in a toolbox or on a workbench. Take a close look at the tools on the following pages. If you have land to care for, you should consider adding a utility vehicle, tractor or zero turn radius (ZTR) mower to your tool shed. Here’s what you need to know. UTILITY VEHICLES With the capabilities of small pickups and a much higher fun factor, utility vehicles (UTVs) are soaring in popularity with landowners nationwide. Consider them grown-up four-wheel ATVs; utility vehicles can carry up to six passengers while doing a whole lot more work. Yes, that makes them more difficult to store and tow than a small ATV, but if you have land, a UTV is worth the effort. I’ve spent a lot of time testing UTVs…

TOOLS WITH HORSEPOWER

VOCs IN YOUR HOME rom vinyl flooring to plug-in air fresheners, different products in your home might emit harmful vapors. We talked to four experts so we could better understand how to lessen our exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs). WHEN DID VOCs BECOME A PROBLEM? VOCs have been around for a long time, though it’s been only in the last couple of decades that science has discovered the extent of their dangers. Yet our exposure to them continues to grow. “For one, we now spend more than 90% of our time indoors,” says Oyvind Birkenes, CEO of Airthings air quality monitors. “Also, over the last couple of decades, scented products like candles, room sprays and even garbage bags have become extremely popular, especially in westernized countries like the U.S., which has contributed to…

SIX COMMON TIRE WEAR PATTERNS—AND THE CAUSES

A CENTER WEAR: Overinflation causes down-the-center wear. It leads to a rough ride and less-responsive braking and steering. Overinflated tires are also prone to impact damage. B OUTER EDGE WEAR: Underinflation, or low tire pressure, causes rapid wear on both outer edges of a tire. Besides causing poor fuel economy, driving on underinflated tires is dangerous. Tire sidewalls flex and overheat from low tire pressure, which can quickly lead to a blowout. C EXCESSIVE INNER OR OUTER WEAR: When tires wear on only the inner or outer edge, your vehicle has a wheel alignment problem. It could be your wheels’ camber angles, that is, the inward or outward tilt of the wheel when viewed from the front of the car, or the wheels’ toe-in/toe-out measurements, that is, the angle/distance between the front of the tires…

SIX COMMON TIRE WEAR PATTERNS—AND THE CAUSES

PREDRILL AND COUNTERSINK

When you’re driving screws into wood, any experienced woodworker would advise you to predrill so you don’t split the wood. But what does that mean, exactly? Here’s the lowdown. When you’re attaching one piece of wood to another, you need a clearance hole through the first board (possibly with a countersink) and a pilot hole in the second board. A clearance hole is just large enough in diameter so that you can slide the screw right into it. The threads don’t engage. A pilot hole’s diameter should be about the size of the screw’s shank so the screw doesn’t act as a wedge. Only the threads work their way into the wood. This predrilling may be unnecessary if you’re working with soft construction lumber, but it’s still good practice if you’re driving…

PREDRILL AND COUNTERSINK

IS IT OK TO PAINT STUCCO?

Some people say you should never paint stucco. Why? Because stucco is a breathable product that allows indoor humidity to escape through the walls. Paint seals the stucco, making that transfer impossible. It’s true that typical latex paint seals the stucco, so that’s a definite no-no. If you see a stucco home with paint flaking off, it’s a safe bet that it’s been painted with a latex paint. Humidity from inside your house gets trapped between the stucco surface and the latex paint, causing the paint to lose its bond. Once that happens, you’ll need to have all the remaining paint sandblasted off. So what do you do when you want to update the color of your stucco home? You need to use an elastomeric paint, which breathes and fills in…

IS IT OK TO PAINT STUCCO?

A SIMPLE FIX: CUP HINGE REPAIR PLATE

If you have cup-style hinges on your kitchen cabinets, chances are you’ve encountered the problem of the hinge screws pulling out of the door or cabinet. In the past, I’ve solved this problem by either filling the hole with epoxy and redrilling, or oversizing the hole and gluing in a dowel. Both are acceptable repairs, but these hinge plates are easier. Search online for “cup hinge repair plate” and you’ll find lots of options, most of which cost less than $15. To install them, first unclip the hinges from their baseplates and remove the door. Next, remove the offending hinge. Slip the cup in the hole and see if the hinge screws line up with the predrilled holes in the plate. If they don’t, no big deal. You can drill new…

A SIMPLE FIX: CUP HINGE REPAIR PLATE

SMOKELESS FIREPITS

HOW DO THEY WORK? Firewood needs an ignition source and air to continue burning. Most of these smokeless pits look like airless containers, but look near the bottom and you’ll see holes that feed the fuel with air. That is the primary combustion air, and all fires need it. Smokeless pits are containers with inner and outer walls separated by air. The air heats, rises inside the wall and exits through vent holes on the inside near the top. This hot air mixes with flames, creating a secondary combustion that burns much of the escaping ash and smoke before it gets in your eyes. BEST THING SINCE FIRE? Smokeless firepits aren’t perfect. They’re not smoke free, but they do emit much less smoke than a typical firepit. The container style means less visible flames…

SMOKELESS FIREPITS

BRIDLE JOINT JIG A bridle joint is very much like a mortise-and-tenon joint, but the mortise is open on one end. So instead of chiseling a recess into the wood to accept the tenon, you cut a slot in the end of the board. This jig makes both cuts of a bridle joint in 3/4-in. material and allows you to adjust for slight variations in material thickness. 7 ESSENTIAL SHOP JIGS INCREASE SAFETY, SPEED AND ACCURACY Making shop jigs is one of my favorite things to do. It uses the analytical, logical and creative side of my brain, and it allows me to do better work safer and faster. After making jigs to cut parts for the Console Stereo Revival project (March ’22, p. 22) and the DIY Crosscut Sled for the table saw…

DO YOU CRAVE MORE FAMILY HANDYMAN?

GOT A DIY QUESTION? Finding the answers is easy at familyhandyman.com. Just use the search box at the top of the page to get expert step-by-step help with your projects. GOT A HANDY HINT OR TIP FOR US? To share your idea with us, submit a copy of your original contribution, including photos and/or sketches, by email to: submissions@familyhandyman.com Or mail to: Family Handyman, 2915 Commers Drive, Suite 700, Eagan, MN 55121 Please include your name, mailing address and email address if you have one, and indicate to which department you are submitting. We reserve the right to publish your submission in any appropriate department, or elsewhere. Contributions will not be acknowledged or returned. RIGHTS By submitting material to us, you grant Home Service Publications, Inc., its parent company subsidiaries, affiliates, partners and licensees worldwide use of…

DO YOU CRAVE MORE FAMILY HANDYMAN?

WHAT GOES UP… To show my nephews how I practiced catching as a child, I was throwing a tennis ball up on my roof, letting it bounce a few times and then catching it. After a few throws and catches, I heaved one up and the three of us stood looking at the roof for the rebound. Nothing. We looked on the other side of the house, in the bushes and all around. No luck. Oh, well… I figured it would eventually show up. Later that day I noticed the laundry sink in the basement wasn’t draining. Hmmm… plugged trap? Then we realized not one of the drains was draining. We called a plumber, who snaked a camera down the cleanout and found the tennis ball stuck in the sewer drain! Seems…

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