Reciprocating saws (often called “recip” saws for short) may be the least appreciated mainstream power tool in the world. Invented in 1951 by the Milwaukee tool company and dubbed the Sawzall, advances in blade technology and batteries are helping recip…
Don’t be fooled by tricky language that makes convincing but false claims about energy efficiency. Get the basics of home energy heating efficiency here.
With the help of a friend, my wife and I finished painting the entire interior of our house a while back, and this reminded me again how great modern latex paint is. The last time we did this job was…
Steve Maxwell demonstrates the various features of multi-tools in this video.
Steve talks about how he has made room in his workshop for metalworking and how you can too with these tips and tricks from Canada’s handiest man.
A while back I talked to a young pastor about a building project he had in mind. His church is planning to put up a new multi-purpose building, and their architect recommended structural insulated panels (SIPs) for the walls. I…
As some of you know, my wife, Mary, was suddenly diagnosed with an advanced case of chordoma in May 2024. That’s a very rare, slow-growing cancer that affects the spine and lower skull. Only one in one million people are…
Recently, the people at Mobil 1 asked if I’d be interested in partnering with them to make a how-to video on DIY motor oil changes. Naturally, I said “yes”, both because I’m a big believer in doing this work yourself,…
Question: What’s causing the clay brick on the entrance wall of my house to peel and flake? It was built in the mid-1980s, and all the houses in our neighbourhood have the same problem. I’ve asked many of the masons…
The phrase “cold feet” is more than just something someone says when they’ve lost enthusiasm. In some houses it’s a permanent source of literal discomfort each winter. Bathrooms, basements, floors over crawlspaces and those notoriously cold bedrooms over garages are…
Steve Maxwell, Canada’s Handiest Man, discusses how to properly replace the handle on a hand tool.
The more I work with wood, the less I like sawdust. Besides the health risks, it’s just plain bothersome, especially when it’s airborne dust. That’s why my ideal workshop experience is as dust-free as possible. This is the motivation behind…