ECONOMICAL HEATING: A Tour of My Outdoor Wood Boiler
Steve Maxwell, Canada’s Handiest Man, outlines the benefits of an outdoor wood furnace as an alternative heating option thats energy efficient.
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Portable Power Stations Deliver Backup Electricity Without Fuel & Fumes
Until a few years ago, fuel-powered generators were the only way to create substantial amounts of electrical power for household backup during a blackout, or for power needs beyond reach of an electrical outlet. All this is changing with something…
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“What’s the Best Way to Fix My Leaky, Wet, Useless Cold Room?”
I often get email questions from homeowners who want to make their basement cold room work like it should. Here’s my typical answer, with downloadable plans for adjustments . . . does this situation sound familiar to you? Question: What…
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WINDOW & DOOR TRIM: A Faster, Easier & Better Way to Install It
Faster, neater window trim and molding installation with joints that never open up. These are the advantages of trim frames, and it’s an approach that’s easier and better than ever. I’ve never seen anyone but me work like this, but I…
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METALWORKING: See The Simplest, Easiest Welding Process in Action
Have you ever wanted to weld? It’s a powerful home workshop skill and MIG welding is the simplest of all welding processes to learn. I weld all the time here in my home shop and I can’t begin to count…
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SUBMERSIBLE WATER PUMP: Watch a Detailed Troubleshooting & Installation Video
In this week’s video episode, see a weird water well pump failure issue, watch a real-world troubleshooting procedure for discovering the problem, see the installation of a new submersible water pump and more . . .
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MASONRY: Why It’s a Great Homebuilding Choice
If you’re planning to build a new house or major addition, I’d like to make the case for masonry. It could be used in more places than it is now, and there are good reasons for this. But first, let…
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HOW TO PAINT YOUR HOUSE: Five Tips from the Pros & a Video
Got some painting to do at your place? Check out these five tips from professional painters that Steve has worked with. Better painting in less time is what you’ll get.
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WOOD PLANER TUNE-UP: How to Keep That Smooth Wood Coming
To be a successful woodworker, you also need to be something of a mechanic. I’m reminded of this every time I install a new set of blades in the thickness planer that’s served me well since 2003. That’s it above….
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Watch a Cool Handsaw Cutting Trick
Watch how fast this Irwin handsaw can cut through construction lumber and learn one cool trick for making square cuts without using a carpenters square or even a pencil!
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Top 10 Professional Tool Suppliers in Canada: Where Tradespeople Actually Buy Their Equipment
Finding the right place to buy professional tools in Canada isn’t as straightforward as it sounds. Walk into a big-box store and you’ll find consumer-grade stock with limited depth. Search online and you get a mix of marketplaces, grey-market sellers,…
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How to Grind Wheat Into Fresh Flour With a Hand Mill
In this week’s video episode, see home-grown hard spring wheat, planted & harvested by hand, watch a 35 year-old hand-operated wheat mill in action and learn how a wheat mill makes flour & why it’s measurably better than so-called store-bought “whole wheat flour”.
