Building Materials & Supplies

Carpentry is the trade of building and repairing structures made from wood. A carpenter is a professional who applies this trade. There are many hand tools that a carpenter uses throughout the...

Removing a stripped screw requires a few simple tools to drill out the head of the screw and create a makeshift screwdriver for extraction. Take care of annoying stripped screws in furniture or...

Calculating stair height and depth follows two simple rules: tread plus riser should be between 17 and 17.5 inches, or tread times riser should be between 70 and 75. Measure heights and depths for...

Comparing steel and concrete as possible building materials entails deciding where stress will go on the structure. Use concrete for good compression resistance and steel for good expansion...

Different types of metal building materials can be found all over homes and structures. Choose copper or galvanized iron for roof edges, copper or plastic for plumbing, and forms of steel for...

Building rafters requires knowing the length and pitch of the roof and cutting the rafters to just the right length, from the outside of the wall to the roof ridge. Layout rafters of the right...

Making a dovetail joint can hold together two pieces of wood at a right angle for building drawers or furniture. Construct a dovetail joint to secure two pieces of wood using a dovetail saw and...

Installing copper tubing flare fittings on flexible copper tubes requires a flare tubing set that features the exact size of tubing. Secure flare fittings onto copper tubing after carefully...

Cutting acrylic plastic requires a fine-tooth handsaw or skill saw, and some cutting may melt the edge of the acrylic as sawing tends to build heat. Sand and refine acrylic plastic after cutting...

Soldering copper pipes requires safely using a propane torch to heat the pipe and fitting before adding the soldering wire to the joint. Solder two edges of copper piping together after brushing...

Chiseling a mortise follows drilling holes to the proper depth and requires carefully chiseling out straight sides and square corners. Drill and chisel a mortise by using a chisel just smaller...

Calculate a roof's pitch by measuring the rise versus the run, with the pitch being however many inches the roof rises for a 12-inch run. Layout a shallow roof at a 3- or 4-inch pitch or a...

Calculating the cost of tile installation is a simple matter of finding the needed square footage and adding costs for tiles, grout and grout sealer. Find the cost of installing tiles to a floor,...

How to replace scroll saw blades will vary depending on the scroll saw being used, as a manufacturer can create unique saws that fit only with that manufacturer's blades. Replace a scroll saw...

Using pop rivet guns can save time joining aluminum and constructing siding or shelters from aluminum sheet metal. Operate a pop rivet gun after drilling the right size hole for the rivet and...

Using a scroll saw to make narrow cuts requires matching the saw blade to the angle of the curve, with tighter curves requiring smaller blades. Operate a scroll saw safely and use earphones when...

Safety rules for scrolls saws are similar to concerns with other small, fast-moving saws. Use a scroll saw safely by plugging the saw in only when it is "off" and by staying aware of the blade to...

Preventing ice dams requires two main protective measures: insulating the house's ceiling to keep attic temperatures lower and venting the eaves. Keep ice dams from forming on your roof and...

Using a tap and die set creates threaded holes and threaded bolts that can be used in wood working and manufacturing. Make or repair bolts and fit them into custom-threaded holes by using a tap...

Common rafter layouts use the Pythagorean Theorem to determine the length of the rafters needed for building a roof at a given pitch. Calculate rafter lengths and design a workable rafter layout...

Drill press safety covers a few rules of using drill presses responsibly, including securing bits firmly, keeping hair and sleeves away from the drill, and clamping down wood securely. Operate a...

Tips for using a drill press include matching the speed of the drill to the bit being used and the material being drilled. Use oil when drilling metal, change speeds for different drill bits and...

Sharpening a plane blade requires sharpening stones of various grits and a little oil. Sharpen a plane blade in a curve or a straight line by sanding down any burrs and listening for just the...

Using a spade bit in a drill is a good way to drill large holes quickly, but drilling too far can ruin a clean piece of wood. Use spade bits on your power drill safely and without damaging...

Using a router involves deciding on the right bit for the job and riding the router down a length of wood to carve an edge or over a surface for a design. Ride a router safely, keeping hair and...

Outfitting a basic electrician's toolbox requires simple tools, such as screwdrivers and pliers, that will cover 90 percent of electrical jobs. Put together a basic toolbox for electricians,...