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.
I remember when there were roughly a billion fewer choices of deck boards and railing systems. The first decks I worked on as a carpenter’s…
In 2004, after dominating the market for more than 70 years, wood treated with CCA (chromated copper arsenate) was withdrawn from residential use due to…
Like most small-business people, I’ve used personal computers (PCs) to manage my business. My wife, who runs the office, has also used PCs. Plus, I…
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…
I have specific criteria for work gloves. First, the gloves have to fit, meaning that when I’m wearing them, the answer to the following questions…
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…
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…
If you’re old enough, you remember nailing off decks with fistfuls of hot-dipped-galvanized sixteens. Your bags were loaded with pounds of nails, and your hammer…
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.
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…
For porches – think beaded ceiling material and crown – a miter saw is a must. I use a DeWalt DW718. DeWalt nailed this tool:…
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…
If you’re old enough, you remember nailing off decks with fistfuls of hot-dipped-galvanized sixteens. Your bags were loaded with pounds of nails, and your hammer…
It’s been said that the Romans were able to conquer the known world because they were organized. I don’t know if that’s true, but I…
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…
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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 […]