Home & Garden Videos

When building a deck, have the right tools such as a flat bar to pry up slim wood, a crowbar to pull up large wood pieces and a skill saw for cutting planks. Keep the right deck building carpentry...

When working in carpentry, safety equipment is required such as glasses, dust masks and gloves. Work safely with carpentry tools, such as table saws and blades, with the help of this free video...

Some of the tools used in carpentry include the handsaw, tape measure, speed square and hammer. Be a prepared carpenter with a toolbox filled with screwdrivers, a skill saw and palm sander with...

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,...

A damper on a wood stove is either mounted in the chimney or in the stove itself, and it is used to block off the air flow going out. Put a damper in an open position when starting a fire in a...

A reciprocating saw can be a jig saw, which is a small device used for cutting designs or holes into wood. Use a reciprocating saw to go places that a circular saw can't go with help from a...

Inside coping is a term that describes an alternative to 45 cuts that are made for creating the inside corners on molding. Discover how to use a chop saw to cut out the meat section of the molding...

Chainsaw maintenance procedures are laid out in the chainsaw's operation manual, and it usually provides advice on keeping a chain at the proper tension. Find out how to maintain a chainsaw's air...

There are two basic types of chandeliers, including one that plugs into a socket and one that wires into the fixture itself. Learn about shortening a chain on a chandelier with two pairs of pliers...

Oftentimes, a chainsaw that's not making good cuts or straight cuts is a result of a problem with chain tension or sharpness. Find out how to sharpen a chainsaw and adjust the tension with help...

The best way to cut steel tubing is by using a steel tubing cutter in conjunction with a cutting wheel that is manually rotated. Discover how a hacksaw can give steel tubing an undesirable,...

There are a couple of basic adjustments for a table saw, including adjusting the height of the blade and changing the angle of the blade. Find out how to release the locking mechanism to adjust a...

Cedar lumber is a member of the redwood family, and it is desirable in that it deteriorates very slowly, thus making it useful for lap siding on the exterior of homes. Find out how cedar lumber is...

When buying maple lumber, inspect the wood for any imperfections, such as scratches, nicks or knots, and make sure the board does not bow in any direction. Choose flawless wood for the best...

Medium density fiberboard, also known as MDF, is a much cheaper alternative to solid wood for many home improvement projects, and it is often created from recycled sawdust. Use pressed and rolled...

Cedar lumber is ideal for exterior home protection because it deteriorates very slowly, and it is available in different grades including vertical grain, horizontal grain and various levels of...

Tongue and groove wooden flooring are boards with either a groove running on all sides or a tongue sticking out on all sides, and each board interlocks with the next board for a seamless...

Concrete cures within three to seven days, depending on the type of cement used, the location and the ambient temperature of the area. Set anchor bolts into concrete after a week of curing with...

To build a wooden utility shelf, gather a wooden board to use as the shelf, brackets to mount the board to the wall, and a level, a tape measure, screws and a screw gun. Drill holes into the studs...

Conserving energy helps save money because people are only charged for the energy they use, and replacing light bulbs with incandescent bulbs is a great way to use less electricity. Understand how...

When buying oak lumber, look the board over thoroughly to locate any damage, nicks, scratches, deep gouges or knots in the wood, and examine the board for any curves, warps or bowing. Buy...

Feathering a board for a router table requires finding a board with a vertical grain, using a chop saw or table saw to make cuts aligned with the grain and using a slight angle on one end of the...

Building a birdhouse is a great activity to share with children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, as plans for birdhouses are available for purchase and the materials are simple and easy to...

When installing quarter round molding, use fasteners long enough to pierce the narrow wood, the cabinet or drywall and the stud without splitting the molding. Carefully install quarter round...

Installing a closet rod requires cutting the rod to the correct length, choosing a bracket type that will support the weight of the clothing and making sure the rod is centered in the closet and...

Learn how to stain a lid for a wood lathe project in this free diy woodworking video from our home carpentry expert.