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Learning solid home improvement skills or carpentry basics gives a homeowner competence in managing his or her primary asset, the house. Practice carpentry projects such as installing new handles and knobs on doors, fixing a lamp and modifying an electric socket with an experienced builder in this free video series on home improvement skills.
There are 25 videos in this series:
Replacing a broken windowpane requires a window cut to just the right size, which should fit easily into the frame before any putty is used. Fix a broken window after carefully removing any shards of glass from the frame with instruction from an experienced builder in this free video on home repair.
Changing a doorknob entails unscrewing the old knob and replacing its existing parts with the new doorknob, which would be available at any hardware or home improvement store. Fix a doorknob with the screws on the right side with instruction from an experienced builder in this free video on home repair.
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 than the width of the mortise with instructions from an experienced builder in this free video on carpentry.
Fixing broken glass in a window requires a window cut to just the right size, which should fit easily into the frame before any putty is used. Replace a broken window after carefully removing any shards of glass from the frame with instruction from an experienced builder in this free video on home repair.
Replacing a blown fuse requires locating the right fuse, which would be purplish and damaged, and replacing it with a new fuse of the same amperage. Fix a blown fuse after finding the fuse box and the right fuse with instruction from an experienced builder in this free video on home repair.
Fixing a lamp involves taking each piece of the lamp apart and checking for damage or wear that could be causing the lamp not to work properly. Put together a broken lamp after replacing any damaged or worn parts with instruction from an experienced builder in this free video on home repair.
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 the surfaces with sandpaper with instruction from an experienced builder in this free video on carpentry.
Replacing a damaged lamp socket involves taking each piece of the lamp apart and checking for damage or wear that could be causing the lamp not to work properly. Fix a damaged light socket by replacing worn or damaged parts with instruction from an experienced builder in this free video on home repair.
Changing a two-prong outlet into a three-prong outlet requires an unused ground wire that has been part of the electrical wiring of the house. Unwrap the ground wire behind a wall outlet and set up a working three-prong outlet with instruction from an experienced builder in this free video on home repair.
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 chisel with instruction from an experienced builder in this free video on carpentry.
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 tightening the flare tool with instruction from an experienced builder in this free video on carpentry.
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 with a fine-tooth saw with instruction from an experienced builder in this free video on carpentry.
Changing a blown fuse in a home requires locating the right fuse, which would be purplish and damaged, and replacing it with a new fuse of the same amperage. Fix a blown fuse after finding the fuse box and the right fuse with instruction from an experienced builder in this free video on home repair.
Buying the right doorknob begins with deciding what the doorknob is for and whether it needs locks and safety features. Choose a doorknob style that fits the house and is made from the right materials with instruction from an experienced builder in this free video on home repair.
Buying roofing begins with calculating how many squares of shingles you need, whether cedar or asphalt, with one square equaling 100 square feet. Choose how many squares of tar paper and bundles of water and ice shield you need with instruction from an experienced builder in this free video on home repair.
Buying insulation for do-it-yourself construction entails choosing a fiberglass insulation or foil-faced insulation for walls and a rigid insulation for floors. Measure for insulation and cut the right size sheets with instruction from an experienced builder in this free video on home repair.
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 comfortable stairs with instruction from an experienced builder in this free video on carpentry.
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 resistance with instruction from an experienced builder in this free video on carpentry and construction.
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 large frames with instruction from an experienced builder in this free video on carpentry and construction.
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 length and cut with instruction from an experienced builder in this free video on carpentry.
Calculating laminate flooring, whether floating or nailed down, is a matter of measuring the room and finding the square footage. Add 5 percent or 10 percent to the total square footage to account for waste to buy laminate flooring like an experienced builder with tips from this free video on home repair.
Installing cedar shingles uses similar tools and methods whether you're installing to a roof or walls. Nail down cedar shingles in neat rows using galvanized or stainless steel nails without exposing more than five inches per layer with instruction from an experienced builder in this free video on home repair.
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 crafts like an experienced builder with the carpentry tips in this free video on home repair.
Replacing an axe handle requires tapping the new handle into the blade and applying small wooden or metal wedges to hold the axe together. Fix a broken axe after chipping out remains of the old handle from the head with instruction from an experienced builder in this free video on home repair.
Installing pulls or knobs onto cabinet doors involves drilling a hole large enough to fit the knob screw through. Screw the knob or handle into place from both sides after drilling a hole in the right place with instruction from an experienced builder in this free video on home repair.
Carpentry is a marketable skill that can be the foundation of a construction company or the hobby that provides personal fulfillment. Knowing the right tools and techniques for building houses and large structures can come in handy when starting a new project or when patching up an old one. Home remodeling is a great way to repair and replace broken items in a home. Additionally, home remodeling can bring an outdated home to contemporary standards or can maintain the classic or historical look of the home. Home repair is often the last thing homeowners want to spend money and time on. However, as many DIYers know, homeowners can do their own home repair with instructions from home renovation and construction professionals. In this free video series on carpentry and construction, experienced builder Robert Markey demonstrates for viewers common construction and home repair projects. Markey shares building knowledge of materials such as steel, concrete, wood and insulation, and offers instruction on the construction of rafters, stairs and windows. Markey also offers insight on less substantial home fix-it projects such as modifying an electric socket, fixing a lamp and a hand axe, installing cabinet handles and buying door knobs. He demonstrates each project and shows what the required tools look like and how they work.
Robert Markey Robert Markey earned his B.S. in physics from MIT in 1969 and his M.S. in computer science from the University of Massachusetts in 1982. Until 1980, his main focus was music, performing on classical guitar and sitar. In 1981, he began to work in the visual arts and also began his study of Tae Kwon Do. For the more than 27 years, those two disciplines have been at the center of his life. He has traveled extensively, working, studying and teaching in Japan, India, Europe, Central and South America. Markey works in several media, including painting, sculpture, installation, video and mosaics. He has done public art projects in cities around the country including New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Houston and Minneapolis. His first video was aired on PBS, and he received national media coverage for his public performance work on domestic violence. He has done mosaic murals in Brazil, Mexico and the U.S., and his mosaic sculptures have been featured at Chesterwood in Stockbridge, Mass.dkdk
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