When I’m on a deck or porch site, the way I usually figure out that a scraggly bush needs to be limbed or removed isn’t by observation and planning. That’d be too smart. Only after it’s gouged my legs repeatedly, or I trip over the thing for the eighth time, do I get the idea and reach for a saw.
Confused by the alphabet soup of wood-treatment chemicals flooding the industry? Read on. In 2004, after dominating the market for more than 70 years, wood…
Building a deck creates two distinct spaces. Topside, gleaming deck boards and guardrails invite customers to enjoy the outdoors. But if a deck is far…
No matter how you slice it, installing effective, good-looking guardrails takes time. Cutting, plumbing, shimming, and fastening the numerous individual parts is not full-speed, turbo-charged…
In this video for This Old House, Mark explains when to use smaller or more specific-use reciprocating saws. These often have unique features that may be…
I learned deck building from a production deck builder. While he could build decks quickly, he could have been even faster if he’d used more…
This Old House contributor Mark Clement demonstrates how to use the reciprocating saw to cut through a wall. Sometimes pipes or other materials are hidden behind…
The combination playground-memorial was designed by Theresa Coleman Clement as part of an Extreme Makeover: Home Edition project in October 2011 that also included building…
If you’re tempted to skip this article because you think safety is boring, consider that having a safety program might help you and your crew…
When I’m on a deck or porch site, the way I usually figure out that a scraggly bush needs to be limbed or removed isn’t…
This tool review put the compact DeWalt recip saw through some tough demo
Hey Mark— I have a steel railing I need to remove from my front stoop. Problem is that the posts are set in the concrete. My…
And I thought it wouldn’t work… …Man, was I wrong. See, when I got my hand (and I mean “hand”, singular) on Milwaukee’s 10.8 volt…
Today, of course, our hammers hang from our belts, and we drive most of our nails with pneumatic tools, so who cares if there is…
I used Diablo’s DemoDemon Pruning Blade and my reciprocating saw to prune and cut down a small tree.
There’s a lot to consider when you set out to refurbish an old porch. They’re challenging, and not just because every porch is different.
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[…] Old House contributor Mark Clement shares a few tricks and tips on how to utilize the shoe of the saw to its utmost potential. The shoe is often adjustable, which allows greater access to different […]