Carpentry

Most commercially available portable speakers use minimal paper speaker cones, small amplifiers, and plastic housings with a predictable listening result--they sound strained when they get turned...

You're all set to get started on a home or business remodeling, expansion or building project, and with the checklist in hand, you head off to your local hardware store or Lowe's or Home Depot to...

Placing a cat door in an existing door isn't a viable option for many people, including renters or homeowners who don't want to cut into a centuries-old kitchen door. You can easily place a cat...

Marine and exterior plywood are popular materials for projects that will be exposed to moisture created by the environment or man-made sources. Both types consist of thin wooden layers or plies...

A wood jig helps to control the movement of a power tool. There are a variety of jig shapes, depending on your woodworking requirements, but there a few basic wood jigs that will assist you in...

Exterior storm shutters are installed on hinges and can be open and closed, depending on impending storm conditions. Also called hurricane shutters, they can protect your home's windows from...

When a bamboo colm, or stalk, reaches the height of 35 to 40 feet, it is harvested and inspected for imperfections and presence of pests. It is then cut into slats. The slats are treated with a...

There are several methods to make the unattractive edges of plywood look smooth and finished. This method uses veneer and laminate strips. Here’s how to hide plywood edges.

"Skil Saw" is actually a trade name for a circular type saw. The electric-powered, hand-held saw is used to cut boards and rip plywood into smaller pieces. A problem with the circular saw is...

Even a minor or inexpensive kitchen upgrade usually involves new pulls or knobs for the cabinets. If you're using pulls that are approximately the same size as the old ones--you may be able to use...

Garages always seem to collect all the extra stuff in the house. An empty corner can be the perfect place to build a set of shelves to help with organization. Use 1x2 boards as stringers to...

An old bathroom cabinet makes a good workbench to place in your garage or basement. By using an old vanity, you will save money and provide a good place to work on your next project. Bathroom...

Water damage to the subfloor is an important problem that needs repair. The rotted subfloor will be weak and possibly dangerous. Modern subfloors are built using 3/4-inch plywood or OSB, and when...

Plywood is a building material used as a cheap and efficient alternative to regular lumber. It often is used as part of the structural framing system of a home, and it may act as a reinforcement...

A radiator cover can hide an old radiator that is becoming an eyesore. Building a radiator cover is an excellent DIY project, because it requires only basic woodworking knowledge and can be...

Storage space is important and necessary. One way to gain maximum storage space in a room is to build wall-mounted storage units. These come in different forms and are sometimes called book...

A workbench is a must for a woodworker. A good, sturdy workbench constructed at the proper height helps reduce the strain on a woodworker's back. The top of the workbench can vary depending on the...

Woodworking jigs are designed to help you repeat the same angle of cut (45-degree, 90-degree or even circular) with minimal effort so that each piece is cut the same. For projects such as building...

Storing wood--either planks or plywood--has always created quite a controversy. Some say that wood can be left to the elements--whether covered or not--as long as it is used fairly quickly, while...

Window sashes are the movable parts of windows that contain the panes of glass. The most common types are hung windows, such as double-hung and single-hung. Older windows of this type often had...

Framing gives a house its basic shape and structure. Combining horizontal and vertical beams, girders, trusses and a variety of other connectors and components, it forms the "skeleton" of a new...

Here is number four of a series of methods to finish or hide the edges of plywood for furniture or any project requiring attractive edges.

If you need to make a number of long wood cuts to fit wall paneling or to rip trim lengthwise and you do not have a table saw handy, build a guide that will make your standard circular saw just as...

Wall paneling is common across America, and, for that matter, around the globe. It was prevalent in almost all house holds or dwellings before drywall came around, and, even so, it is still a...

Bathroom subfloors are no different that any other subfloor, with the exception that bathrooms are usually smaller and must be able to withstand the weight of a bathtub. The structural...

Wooden shelving is beneficial in any room, garage or basement. Many thin metal shelving units buckle under heavy loads of books, cleaning supplies or tools. Sturdier metal shelving units are...

Concrete steps are one of the most durable and solid options for a homeowner. Making a set of these steps involves building rectangular forms in the shape of the steps from wood and then filling...

A workbench for the corner of your basement or garage is a really good, practical idea, especially if you want to put every square inch of your work area to use. Instead of filling that unused...

Before you lay new wood flooring, vinyl tile, carpet or other floor materials, you'll want a smooth, even sub-flooring installed over the old floor. This provides a solid, level work surface to...

Using a circular saw for a table saw is an innovative way to perform straight-line cutting whether on the job site or for the home do-it-your-selfer. You will need some materials to set up the...

A popular convenience for a shower is a shower bench. A bench serves multiple uses, such as assistance and rest for the elderly while in the shower. It can also be used for balance while washing...

It can often be very handy to have a large, clear surface to work on, particularly for projects like scrapbooking, jigsaw puzzling or even sewing. The problem is a large, flat work center takes up...

You don't have to replace a sagging drawer bottom. A typical drawer has a cavity beneath it that's just deep enough so you can strengthen the bottom with a piece of plywood. The following article...

The words drafting table or drawing board bring to mind an image of a desk with a non-movable flat or movable vertical top. Making a homemade drafting table may seem like a daunting task, but it...

When you start looking at saws, you will be amazed at the selection available. There are saws in all different shapes and sizes that are meant to be used for different purposes. It pays to know...

Coffins are a great way to spruce up any haunted house or Halloween-themed party. They are relatively easy to build and provide a wealth of scare tactics that are limited only by the builder’s...