Discover the expert in you.
Discover the expert in you.
Refinishing stairs is a project that can take days, and you can't use the stairs while it's in progress, so it's good to take advantage of any shortcuts you can find. Professionals often have to refinish stairs as part of a larger floor refinishing job, and some of the tools they use can make the job easier. You also can save time by finishing with oil, which is much easier than polyurethane to touch up.
Whether you're lacking in closet space or want to convert an unused room into a closet, installing a closet system on a bare wall can provide ample storage in a neat and organized fashion. Closet systems range from elegant and costly wood installations to relatively inexpensive coated wire. Drawers, baskets and other items add additional storage. Depending upon your space, a closet system can replace dressers, hanging space and freestanding shelving.
Nothing destroys the look of an attractive piece of solid hardwood or wood veneer more quickly than cross-grain scratches. They are often an unavoidable product of a refinishing procedure, and they can occur on floors, furniture or craft items. One of the most common places to find cross-grain scratches is in inside corners where the grain runs perpendicular to the corner. You often can't sand these adequately by going with the grain and have to go cross-grain to remove finish or stain. You can get these and all other scratch marks out with sandpaper or a scraper.
Decorating wood letters with glue and tissue is going to require a few other basic items, like some nice silk flowers. Decorate wood letters with glue and tissue with help from a florist, interior decorator and party planner in this free video clip.
When decorating wooden craft trays, one element you're going to want to have easy access to is some nice wooden mesh. Decorate wooden craft trays with help from a florist, interior decorator and party planner in this free video clip.
When decorating wood letters with ribbon, you're going to need to have a few helpful tools at the ready. Decorate wood letters with ribbon with help from a florist, interior decorator and party planner in this free video clip.
Wood veneers that have warped aren't necessarily damaged beyond repair. Restore warped wood veneers with help from a master precision craftsman in this free video clip.
Applying a wood veneer doesn't always require the use of an expensive vacuum press. Apply wood veneers without a vacuum press with help from a master precision craftsman in this free video clip.
If your wood veneers come loose, there are a few key things that you can do to fix the issues. Learn about potential problems with wood veneers coming loose with help from a master precision craftsman in this free video clip.
Standing wood has a tendency to darken it if you don't take the proper precautions. Learn about problems that could crop up with sanding wood that darkens with help from a master precision craftsman in this free video clip.
Kiln-dried and naturally-dried guitar wood are different in a number of key ways that are important for any musician to know. Learn about kiln-dried versus naturally-dried guitar wood with help from an experienced audio engineer in this free video clip.
Fixing the finish on a wooden dresser is a great way to breath new life into an old piece. Find out how to fix the finish on a wood dresser with help from a 46-year-old master precision craftsman in this free video clip.
Repairing oak wood isn't nearly as difficult as you might assume. Learn how to properly repair old wood with help from a 46-year-old master precision craftsman in this free video clip.
Repairing wood finish can take an old piece and make it look as good as new. Find out how to repair a wood finish with help from a 46-year-old master precision craftsman in this free video clip.
Cleaning old wood furniture is one thing - safely cleaning old wood furniture and preserving its natural features is something else entirely. Safely clean old wooden furniture with help from an experienced interior design professional in this free video clip.
Removing pickled wood finish requires you to have access to a few key tools, like a good pair of gloves for safety. Remove pickled wood finish with help from a 46-year-old master precision craftsman in this free video clip.
Removing wood veneers may be required to repair other parts of a particular piece of wood furniture. Find out how to remove wood veneers with help from a 46-year-old master precision craftsman in this free video clip.
The secret to properly restoring a worn wood finish rests within a few specific parts of the process itself. Restore a worn wood finish with help from a master precision craftsman in this free video clip.
Reconditioning antique wood furniture doesn't have to require the expensive services of a professional. Recondition antique wood furniture with help from a master precision craftsman in this free video clip.
Sanding the fingerboard on a guitar will help give your finished instrument that clean, professional look. Sand the fingerboard on a guitar with help from an experienced guitar builder and repair technician in this free video clip.
You can cut the salty flavor out of your favorite stew in a few different ways depending on your preferences. Learn how to cut the salty flavor in a stew with help from an experienced chef in this free video clip.
Buttresses are constructions that are designed and placed to give walls more stability, supporting and reinforcing them. In the past they were fabricated from wood and stone, but today concrete can be used. A poured concrete buttress is essentially a footing to the wall – as concrete must be poured into a hole, it cannot stand up as a vertical structure – that is often installed in areas where subsidence may be a problem.
Making wood burning lettering will require you to work with different fonts as well as colors. Make wood burned lettering in Photoshop with help from a well-versed web, graphic and illustrative designer in this free video clip.
Cutting out shapes within shapes in Illustrator is easy, so long as you're putting the right tool to good use. Cut out shapes within shapes in Illustrator with help from a well-versed web, graphic and illustrative designer in this free video clip.
A table without sufficient support on the underside of the tabletop is prone to sagging over time under the weight of frequent use. The legs and apron support the tabletop at the corners and along the outer edge, but the center portion of the table often needs a brace to prevent the top from sagging. This is especially critical because the center of the tabletop often holds the heaviest load. Any scrap lumber may be used because it won't be visible when the table is in use.
Static electricity is fun to play with as a child. Combs, balloons and even cats lead to all kinds of neat experiments. It's not fun, though, when static-electricity buildup cause a failure of an electronic part you're troubleshooting at the workbench. Whether repairing or adding to a computer, or working on a kitchen appliance, keeping static down with a do-it-yourself solution for your bench is wise and inexpensive.
Palm routers are hand-held devices, designed to be easily manipulated and used in tight spots to make edges or grooves in wood. If you need to replace a piece of wood siding that has a decorative edge or groove that you can't find a replacement for, a palm router may be a very handy tool to have. With a little experimentation, you'll likely be able to replicate the look of your original siding piece.
Cabinets quickly become outdated as new styles emerge, but the cost of total cabinet replacement could set you back tens of thousands of dollars. Refacing the cabinets with wood veneer laminate gives you the look of new cabinets at a fraction of a cost. This option works well to update any old or worn cabinets that are still structurally strong. You might need to install wood veneer to match base cabinets when you could only afford new upper cabinetry. Wood veneer is applied with contact cement, but veneer sheets are also available with peel-and-stick backs for easy application.
Porcelain has become synonymous with bathroom fixtures and tile, but porcelain enamel can be found on other household furnishings as well. The ceramic material is used on stovetops and cookware and may be substituted for wood or stone on tabletops. But no matter where you find it in use, you also often find chips and rust from the underlying metal. If you need to refinished a damaged porcelain table top, you'll find it to be a bit simpler than patching up the complex surface areas of fixtures and tile. A porcelain enamel tabletop can be made to look presentable again…
A good Bose headset presents the user with incredible range and depth of sound, often at a premium price. When there’s a fault in the plug-in cords, the headset becomes nothing more than an expensive paperweight. You can repair the cord using common tools and inexpensive replacement parts. It’s just a matter of determining the fault to know which repair process is needed to get the headset back into top working order.
Wood and concrete are both frequently used in construction, but the transition from one to the other requires some finesse to make it look its best. Plaster is often used to bridge the gap between surfaces, and plaster lends itself well to decorating. Detailing the plaster helps improve its overall appearance and gives you the ability to express yourself creatively. The detailing process just requires some basic materials to make the transition between wooden frames and concrete more appealing.
Perhaps you've just removed a tree from your yard and would like to re-purpose some of the wood, or you want to add a rustic accent piece to your living room. Using fresh-cut wood for lumber requires proper drying and seasoning to prevent staining, rotting and insect damage. The process is time consuming and varies depending on type of wood, your climate and the time of year, but the finished product allows you to build any number of wood tables.
Cutting out double hearts requires you to keep a few very important things in mind. Cut double hearts out with help from an experienced teacher in this free video clip.
An old, beaten up piece of furniture isn't necessarily destined for the dumpster just because its finish is worn. Many thrift-store junkies revel in taking these pieces and transforming them using spray paint. Two or three cans later, the piece in question looks like it just came out of a wood shop. A variety of paints can be used to refinish wooden tables, depending on the needs of the person doing the work.
Sure, building stairs looks complicated, but appearances are deceiving. Stairs are formed with stringers -- generally 2-by-10 or 2-by-12-inch boards -- cut to accommodate specific measurements. Called the run for the depth of each step and the rise for the height, from one step to the next, these are calculated mathematically based on the total rise of the stairs -- the distance from one level to the next -- and the total run -- the distance the stairs extend outward. Attention to detail and a calculator, along with a few boards, is about all you need to build your own…
Old-fashioned straw dispensers perform a double function as dining room decor and functional accessory -- not only do they keep your straws on display, but also they make them easily accessible and prevent them from spilling out on the counter or floor. The beauty of a straw dispenser is in its simplicity -- while you can buy them in the retro style, you can just as easily make your own. To build your own straw dispenser, you need only a few household materials -- and, of course, a bundle of straws.
Attaching a changing table to the top of a crib provides a convenient location for changing your baby while saving you space in the nursery that would otherwise be taken up by a freestanding table. The tables are made for sturdy but temporary placement, with adjustable mounts that make removal and replacement a quick and simple process. All that’s required is a hex key of the appropriate size.
The ways to cut a wood spindle are as varied as the types of wood available from which to carve. The basics require any wood blank to be chiseled into cylindrical form on a turning lathe, but once you have the proper shape to work from, the job will depend on what the aesthetics of your project dictate and the intended use of the spindle. Once you determine how you want the spindle to look, then you may proceed with shaping your block of wood into something beautifully unique.
Balau decking is chosen for its rich hue and minimal knotting. This wood can stand up to heavy use, allowing it to survive the years of trampling it will receive as part of your deck. There are some negatives associated with the use of balau decking, however. Before you invest in decking material of this type, consider the drawbacks associated with it.
Cedar is prized for its durability, stability and scent, which is pleasant to people but not so much so for insects that like to pester this wood. Cedar is used in many projects ranging from closets to outdoor decks. Like any other wood, one concern is splintering. Not only does it decrease the appeal of the wood's appearance, it also poses a hazard if rubbed against. Rather than fix the problem after it appears, take small steps to prevent it through the finishing process.
Marble mosaic tiles usually have unsanded grout in the tile joints, because standard sanded grout can scratch the marble surface during application. Unsanded grout is also preferred for joints with a width less than 1/8-inch, as it tends to fail when it's used to fill larger joints. Cracks may form as the old grout shrinks, usually from tile settling or from age, requiring repair so moisture doesn't work behind the tiles. Repairing the grout also improves the appearance of the marble mosaic.
Arborite table tops offer an alternative to softer and more vulnerable wood table tops. Arborite is a laminate wood finish that is hard and resistant to scratching and other forms of damage. Although Arborite can resemble a laminate wood, it is actually a composite material that is made of a type of plastic, rather than wood.
During construction of a home, the homebuilder typically creates spaces for each appliance in the kitchen. Often, cabinets installed to the walls frame out these spaces and appliances slide right in along the cabinetry against the wall. Sometimes, however, cubby holes in the walls serve as the frames for kitchen appliances, so if you buy a larger appliance for the space, such as a deeper refrigerator, you must remove more of the wall to make the refrigerator fit.
You can use the layer modes and filters in Adobe Illustrator to alter an existing image to give it a wood cut style. For the best quality prints, start with a high-quality image of at least 300 dpi, such as photos taken by a quality digital camera or scanned to the computer using a high dpi.
You can fix your Grado headphones by finding the short in the wiring and repairing the broken connection. The wires start at the headphone jack and travel up to the "Y" where they split off to the left and right earpiece. If there is a break or crack in the wire at any point, the sound will cut out as the break opens the circuit. The most likely points of failure are just above the jack connection and at the "Y" joint.
Patio tables need to be durable enough to withstand exposure to the elements. A tile-topped table is a good option for keeping on the patio because the tile is waterproof. Incorporating shells into the table's design brings a hint of the beach to your patio. If you choose to tile a patio table yourself, adding seashells becomes even easier.
Turned-wood lamps are a beautiful accent lighting piece for any style of home. If you have a turned-wood lamp or find one that can be reclaimed, you may want to redo it to match your decor. Wood is not difficult to refinish. The key is to prepare the existing surface to allow the new finish to adhere properly. Select a finish similar to an accent or trim color in the room where you plan to use the lamp.
When you make a shallow cut in a wooden wall, the cut won't penetrate through to the other side. A shallow cut can be any depth as long as it does not reach the opposite side of the material. You may need to make a shallow cut in a wooden wall when laying insets for decorative purposes, intertwining wood beams or posts or removing rotted material. You can make a shallow cut with a circular saw featuring an adjustable cutting table.
An unseen trickle from a window or a leak in a drain can quietly saturate your home’s wood structure, causing damage before you even know there is a problem. Subflooring usually suffers before wall framing because it’s composed of laminated wood fibers that swell. Replacing a section of subfloor isn’t usually a problem, unless the subfloor runs beneath a wall sill. Depending upon the type of wall involved, you may be able to cut out and replace a section of subfloor, or you may have to call in the pros.
Installing inlay into a piece of furniture is a way to add that personal, customized touch. Inlay consists of a contrasting material imbedded into the surface of the wood. The contrasting material can be another type of wood, such as ebony imbedded in maple, or a totally different material such as mother of pearl.
