Carpentry

If you have squeaky stairs, inspect the stair treads. The squeaking sound is caused when wood rubs against wood, or when loose nails slide while being compressed. To fix this problem without...

Whether you were overzealous in your attempt to sink a screw into some wood or the screw's metal was too soft, stripping an Allen head screw is a common occurrence. Sometimes you're lucky enough...

If you need to hide screws in a piece of furniture that you plan to paint, you can use dowel rods or purchase ready-made plugs at your home improvement store. Paint will usually hide the...

A wooden work desk makes a great place for getting homework or leftover work done in your home or shop. Most wooden desks do not come with predrilled holes for a cord or any other item you want to...

Screws are versatile fasteners that you may need on many home carpentry projects. They come in a variety of sizes, thread and drive types, and head shapes. Each have their uses, and it's almost...

Kitchen cabinet hardware not only adds functionality to your cabinets but can add a beautiful design that gives elegance to your kitchen. The knobs, pulls and handles can match your other metals...

Nothing puts a kink in a project like a broken screw. In some cases, the piece being worked on is expendable and can be easily replaced with a new piece; however, this is not always the case....

A drill press is a stationary drill that is secured by bolts to a workbench, floor or stand. It has five parts, including a base, table, column, spindle and drill head.

A personal workshop provides an area for you to fix and build anything you think you can. A crucial tool in a workshop is a vise. A mounted bench vise will help you clamp items in position so you...

A bench drill press, also known as a pedestal drill or pillar drill, is a drill that is secured on a stand or workbench, or affixed to the floor for stability.

Drill bits come in various sizes, from 1/16 inch or smaller, all the way up to 1 inch. When manufactured, the bits are gauged by measuring the outside edges, also known as the outside diameter....

The addition of an air conditioner to a room can greatly enhance its comfort in warmer months. A wall-mounted air conditioner allows you to cool just one room instead of the whole house and is...

Plumbing in a basement can run along the ceiling or between the floor joists and may be an eyesore that you want to conceal or cover up. One way in which you can cover plumbing is to install a...

Old bolts can occasionally be hard to remove. Rust can build up and cause them to be stuck within the holes. Even worse, the bolt head can break off and make the rest of the bolt nearly impossible...

Power drills have become an important part of the woodworking arsenal. They are incredibly versatile tools that have a myriad uses in almost all projects: whether you need holes drilled or screws...

When replacing or repairing decking, stubborn screws are a common problem. Common Phillips head screws often strip as they are being installed. Don't worry, there are lots of options to remove...

Screws are superior to nails when used in decking. Over time, the expansion and contraction of wood loosens nails and leads to loose boards and warping. In the world of screws, the six-pointed...

Sliding bypass doors are typically used to cover closets or laundry space. They come in handy if both sides of the area are not needed at once. They are also useful for large spaces that never had...

Anyone who has built more than one or two things in their lifetime has had the frustration of realizing that a carefully placed screw has turned just past the point of no return and is now loosely...

Cabinet door hinges sometimes get bent, broken, or come loose. Installing new ones just takes a little time and effort. Be sure to align the hinges with one another. Replace the hinges, and make...

Battery-powered drills are a practical tool for any craftsman, making it easier to drill holes and screws into wood without the time, effort and energy demanded by most hand tools. But in order to...

The size and type of drill bit you need varies depending on the nature of the job you wish to complete. Fortunately, adjustable drills made by companies, such as DeWALT, allow users to change...

Nearly every man-made object, from shelving units to motherboards in computers, is connected by screws. When the head of a screw becomes stripped from improper installation or wear and tear, it...

European style hinges require a hole on the back side of the cabinet door. These hinges are highly adjustable, which makes them the most popular hinge to install on cabinet doors. With a simple...

All home repair comes with its own degree of difficulty and safety needs. Installing new hardware on cabinets or other doors around the house is a fairly simple task. Before starting your project,...

Replacing a mirrored medicine cabinet is not difficult at all. Many medicine cabinets are recessed into the wall and secured to studs. A recessed cabinet looks much nicer than a flush mount...

Use the same strategy to secure a bookcase to a masonry wall whether the bookcase sits directly on the floor or hangs on the wall. It is important to use anchors and screws manufactured...

Kitchen cabinets are of such visual significance that they usually represent the dominant look of your kitchen. In addition to the aesthetics, cabinets also need to be able to support a good deal...

Cabinet damage shows up mainly in drawers and doors. It is difficult to find contractors who will take on these projects because they are too small and time consuming. Though the project seems...

A recycled pallet can be used for all sorts of projects, from bookshelves, to boot stands and even as firewood kindling. If you are a do-it-yourselfer and find yourself in possession of a pallet,...

A drill bit is a tool that is attached to a drilling machine, such as a drill press, to create cylindrical holes. Drill bits are available in a variety of shapes, sizes and types. Each type of...

A drilling machine, also known as a drill press, is a tool used to precisely drill holes to exact depths. Drills come in two basic types: the bench top drill press and the floor-model drill press....

A pillar drill is the larger version of a machine drill. It is used for drilling holes through materials such as wood, plastic and metal. A pillar drill has a long column that stands on the floor...

There is no BIGGER small problem than trying to remove a stripped screw or bolt. Stripped screws and bolts can be a pain to remove even with the right tools. Getting that stripped bolt head from...

The rotation of a forstner bit lets the perimeter set the course for the hole being drilled. This makes it possible for the bit to drill at any angle without interruptions in true course. Since...

Drill deeply into stock and stay on a true course with a forstner bit. The holes drilled with a forstner bit are not interrupted by inconsistencies in stock, other holes or angled direction so...

Adding a vise to your new workbench is a great addition to your tool set and makes working on difficult items a snap.

Hammer drills are equipped with a special feature that allows a drill bit to move back and forth in quick recessions while the bit spins. This hammering drives the bit into the hard surface while...

With use, a drill bit will lose its sharp edge. A dull drill bit can cause a hole to be oversized, can burn your work piece and is generally not as easy to use. There is no need to throw away dull...

Drywall screws are available in a variety of sizes and styles, and can be used for metal stud or wood stud applications when hanging drywall. Metal stud screws have a self-drilling head which...

A nice railing can be a beautiful addition to any stairway. Not only is it decorative, but it also serves as an important piece of safety equipment. Though railings are most often found on the...

Here's an affordable idea to help organize food and, at the same time, create kitchen storage space. This can be integrated easily into any room décor because you are the designer. Build this...

To ensure that holes in such objects as firearms, vehicles, airplanes and boats are dimensionally accurate, use a reamer. Reamers are usually operated with a drill press that spins the reamer bit...

If you use your industrial drill bits on a regular basis, you know all too well that they will get dull. Dull drill bits are very dangerous. They can break easier than sharp ones because it takes...

Whether your band saw came with a fence system or not, these material cutting guides are invaluable for making accurate cuts. Generally constructed from lightweight metal, fences can also be made...

Auger bits are based on an invention from about 2,300 years ago called "Archimedes' screw." In the 21st century, they are used to move material and liquid in a variety of tools and equipment. A...

Replacing stair spindles is not as difficult as you might think. There is a tool called a Kreg Jig that is very efficient in securing the new spindles into place. With a few minutes of practice on...

A screw that is damaged often cannot be removed with the tools most commonly used to remove an undamaged screw. In some cases, the fitting on the head of the screw meant to accept a flat head,...

A Lenox hole saw can cut perfect circles in a variety of materials, in a short amount of time. The tool consists of an arbor; which consists of a shaft that the drill chuck grips onto, a pilot...

Electric drills can make short work of any holes for any material. A chuck at the end of the tool holds the drill bit in place. When you pull the trigger, the bit rotates at up to 3000 revolutions...