When applying stain to a deck or fence’s vertical surfaces, start from the bottom and work up. This prevents runs and streaks. And, use a high quality brush.
Today’s Tip: Driver Bits
May 13, 2012 By
It might not look like it at first, but driver bits can wear out making them really hard to keep in contact with the screw. The first telltale sign: the bit cams out of screw heads more easily than normal—thuda-thuda-thuda-thuda. The other sign: the very tip is shiny, which is a means the steel has [...]
Mark & Theresa share 12 Ladder Safety Tips with Old House Journal
March 1, 2012 By 2 Comments
Choosing the best ladder for the job is key to using one safely.
Hyde Multi-Tool at Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
January 26, 2012 By 5 Comments
So here’s one from the “Couldn’t make it up if I tried” Department—and yet another reason why a tool pouch without a Hyde multi-tool in it is an invitation to work harder than necessary. While on set at Extreme Makeover: Home Edition’s Knoxville, TN project working with the show’s project management team I had to [...]
Extreme Makeover Joplin: Tooling Up
January 11, 2012 By 11 Comments
Tooling Up in Joplin’s Cunningham Park with Extreme Makeover. It took 10,000 volunteers and multiple builders to make Extreme Makeover: Home Edition‘s 200th—and final—episode a reality. Seven houses in seven days plus our playground and memorial wall in the tornado-ravaged city of Joplin, MO is no small feat. And like any endeavor where many are [...]
Quick Tip! Mark says: “Carry an Eraser”
January 8, 2012 By 35 Comments
Every now and again (or more often than that depending on the kinds of day you’re having) a mistake gets made. You put the X on the wrong side of the line, read a 6 as a 9 and put a mark that doesn’t signify anything, or your stud finder is — as most are [...]
Tool Review: Stanley PowerLock 25 Foot Tape Measure
December 24, 2011 By 5 Comments
You’re going to love this. Here is a tool review of a brand new tool that I’ve had in my pouch for XX years…I mean xx years…since high school, how’s that? I bought my first tape along with my first tool apron and hammer at Town Paint and Supply—a place that was old then. (And [...]
FixitUpFind: Stainless Steel Knives
December 20, 2011 By 8 Comments
For my buck there are two main reasons to upgrade to stainless steel knives and scrapers: You’re a painting or coating pro who uses the tools constantly. Or you are like me: You use them as part of your other remodeling activities and the tools sit for periods of time between projects. For guys who [...]
FixitUpFind: Great Stuff Work Wipes
December 9, 2011 By 4 Comments
Here’s one from the “where-has-this-been-all-my-life” department. Great Stuff makes a cool looking product that cleans up a hard-to-clean product: Great Stuff. Look, I like expanding foam insulation and plan to use some on our forthcoming door project. (Note: Only use low-expanding foam on door and window projects). However, it only takes a little to get [...]
Aggressive Reciprocating Saw Blade
November 28, 2011 By 3 Comments
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 [...]
