Hand Tools & Equipment

A banister is perhaps the most distinctive part of the staircase that serves a decorative and functional purpose. It includes the handrail and the posts on either side. Whether through defect, wear or…

Many workbenches come with an elaborate system of drawers, but if you're making your own or have opted for a more basic version, you can install your own in relatively little time. The shallowness and…

A transmission jack is designed to be used in a very specific way for maximum safety. Use a transmission jack with help from an expert in the automotive industry in this free video clip.

A washout is the result of water damage beneath a home’s foundation due to the removal of a significant amount of supportive soil. To fix a washout, the material beneath the home must be…

If you're switching to wood heat from gas or electric, you'll likely find that your home is lacking a chimney. Most new homes don't have chimneys, and even those that do are usually designed for…

Commonly seen in log cabins and barns, exposed-beam ceilings are now often found in homes and buildings. The beams create rural charm and architectural interest to the indoor space. If your ceilings…

When you're looking to create the impression of fine hardwood on a steel, fiberglass or composite flush door, you could employ the painstaking approach of using a fine artist's brush to apply every…

Lowrider hydraulics use a very specific type of fluid during operation. Learn what kind of fluid lowrider hydraulics use with help from an expert in the automotive industry in this free video clip.

Since 1998 Lowes has offered its own brand of workbenches and tables under the brand name Kobalt. The workbenches come in various sizes with one to six drawers, depending on the particular model. Some…

Craftsman refers to its drill bit sharpening jig as a drill grinding attachment. The jig is used in conjunction with a bench grinder to grind the correct angles on drill bits to be sharpened. The…

A door can be hung in a hallway to section off one part of a house from another. This is particularly useful if the house is large and portions are closed off in discrete heating and air conditioning…

Brick can add warmth and texture to almost any wall, including a kitchen backsplash. Thinset is commonly used as tile adhesive, but it also works for certain brick installations, such as brick veneer.…

Microwave cabinets, whether homemade or pre-made, essentially convert your countertop microwave oven to a built-in model. Hanging the oven on the wall frees up counter space for storage and utility.…

Valve allows independent developers to create their own game modules from Valve games using the Source SDK engine that runs "Half-Life 2." Valve distributes the Hammer editor as part of the…

Adding a closet to your home can turn a den into a bedroom. It can also add value to your home by creating additional storage space. An additional closet may make it easier to store and care for your…

A corner closet is one of the easiest closets to add to your home, since it uses two existing walls as part of the design. An additional closet will provide more storage space for your home, and can…

A kitchen remodeling project often includes updating your kitchen cabinets, and you may want to add overhead cabinets. Hanging overhead cabinets is a job that you can do yourself and save money. You…

A failing closet-rod support can cause significant issues in your closet, resulting in freshly laundered and pressed garments falling to the floor. The problem probably isn't the rod holder. Rod…

Getting your gate to swing freely over uneven ground can be accomplished in several ways. You can either modify or reposition the gate or even-out the ground in the gate's swing radius. If the gate's…

Drill bits vary in size, giving a craftsman the ability to make holes ranging from pin size to several inches across. Like any other cutting tool, they eventually wear down and become dull. Whether…

Wood houses tend to sag over time as the floor joists lose strength over wide spans and soil settles. You can bring the level of the center of a house back up into place with the use of floor jacks…

Concrete is an extremely hard surface and because of this, special concrete anchors must be used when you're either attaching something to concrete or hanging an object from it. Concrete anchors come…

The corners of a picture frame may pull apart over time. You can reassemble them by nailing the mitered edges with a brad, to create a stronger joint than one relying only on glue.

Drills are power tools that use bits, which are sharp spiral-shaped rods, to pierce wood, metal or other surfaces and make holes in them. Rather than throw away drill bits once they have become dull,…

Using a 1/4-inch jack for stereo out requires the correct connection cable and plug configuration. Many stereo sound mixers, equalizers, sound modification devices and some musical instruments use…

A carousel spice rack works just like a lazy Susan: It turns on a bearing to allow easy access to the spices or goods around its edges. While many spice racks have shelves or wire to hold up the spice…

When you need to either service or change out a faucet, you must first open the faucet up by removing the water control handle. All water control handles are anchored to the faucet with a small screw,…

Entrance canopies offer an easy, inexpensive method to shade your entryway and protect it from inclement weather. Prefabricated entrance canopies typically mount to exterior walls via mounting…

An action wrench is a tool used to clamp around the action of a rifle, when removing the barrel. Making an action wrench can be done by hand, if you have the proper tools and materials. Fabricating…

A backsplash serves an important purpose other than simply improving the appearance of a kitchen. It also protects the wall surface from water damage and stains. However, for proper protection to…

Antique doors aren't just functional, they add a touch of interest to any decor. Depending on the type of wood it's made out of, an antique door can weigh up to 50 pounds. Because a door is a…

The Altman Z-Score is a way of measuring the fiscal fitness of a company. Five financial statistics are entered into an equation, and the resulting score tells you how likely that business is to go…

The glides on each drawer of a toolbox can wear down and break with extended usage. Damaged glides can cause a drawer to become difficult to move and get stuck. Replacing the glides is not a difficult…

Jewelers use rivets to hold metal jewelry pieces together. Rivets are created by hammering metal wire through drilled holes in the jewelry pieces until the wire is firmly held in place. A jewelry…

File shelves offer a place to store personal or business files without the need for a filing cabinet. This can help save space in a small home office or other area where you need to quickly access…

Stud finders work by either magnetic or electronic means. Their purpose is to locate metal or support frames inside walls. Exterior stucco walls are almost invariably built over a metal mesh, which…

Wood graining can provide a decorative finish in places where none exists. The process of wood graining simply involves providing a faux finish to a surface to make it appear to be wood, when in fact…

Hardwall hangers are plastic hooks with metal pins on top that penetrate through the surface of the wall. They typically support objects no heavier than 20 pounds, and the objects must exert a…

Whether you're installing a new banister rail or have noticed your current one is getting a bit rickety, proper nailing is essential for a secure hold that will last for years. Usually, nailing is…

Interior railings are not only aesthetically pleasing, they serve an important safety function as well. If you lose your balance and slip on the stairs, the railing may be all that prevents you from…

A corbel mantle is actually a cleat-mounted mantle that appears to be supported by corbels. Corbels are decorative shelf blocks that may be fitted under any shelf surface. Hollow-backed corbels are…

The Ryobi BC30 is a brush-cutter tool attachment meant to cut through thick weeds and hard-to-remove stalk. While the BC30 is designed to be used with the Ryobi brush-cutter trimmer, the attachment…

The Mozilla Firefox Web browser has a series of settings available to change how you view websites and store browsing data. These Web browsing tools are available in a menu screen listed as the Tools…

Frost heave is a condition that occurs during winter when moisture in soil freezes and compresses against objects embedded in the soil, such as deck footings. As the water freezes, the soil pushes…

If you have a two-story house with no heat vents on the second floor, it's possible to use simple gravity to send heat to the upstairs rooms. Do this by cutting a hole through the floor upstairs into…

Hanging a large picture or mirror on the wall requires more than just a screwdriver and screw. Hanging a heavy object in drywall requires an anchor that prevents the screw from slipping out of the…

Light-duty metal-cutting shears are necessary to cut aluminum awnings. Heavy-duty shears are designed to be used on stronger metals and could cause aluminum awnings to warp during the cutting process.…

Gooseneck refers to an s-shaped molding often found on the tops of grandfather clocks, tall dressers and Queen Anne-style furniture. It is also sometimes called swan's neck molding. The gooseneck…

Installing metal siding is a task you can do on your own if you have the right tools and are relatively handy. Aluminum siding lasts a long time with proper care, and requires no sanding and painting…

Electricians specializing in remodeling and new residential construction jobs routinely use simple carpentry skills. A residential electrician's tool box must be outfitted with carpenter's tools as…