VIDEO FEATURE: Silky-Smooth Wood Varnish Finishing
Watch Steve show how to apply an astonishing smooth urethane finish on interior wood, without using a sprayer.
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HOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY: Four Ways to Make a Home 2x More Efficient
While the energy efficiency of new homes and renovations has gone way up over the last few decades, most people don’t realize how much more gains are possible. Employ the renovation and new construction strategies you’ll find here and you’ll…
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INSULATION MYTHS: 4 Popular Misconceptions Busted
Winter is the season when people in cold regions rely most on home insulation. That’s because winter presents the greatest insulation needs – both physically and financially. The thing is, you have to think correctly about insulation in the off-season…
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Building a Fabric Structure: What I Learned (Before You Buy One)
Fabric structure buildings have become a popular option for barns, equipment storage, workshops and agricultural buildings. Compared with traditional framed buildings, they can go up faster, cost less per square foot and provide bright interior spaces filled with natural light….
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PORTABLE POWER STATION REVIEW: Learn How They Work & Why They’re Good
Portable power stations (sometimes called portable solar generators), are an up-and-coming technology that offers more than gas-powered generators. Watch this video tour of the technology and see how one of the newest and most widely available models stacks up.
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WOOD THICKNESS PLANERS: Tips for Choosing and Maintaining One
Wood thickness planers are one of the most useful machines in any home workshop. They turn rough lumber into smooth, uniform boards and open up new design options you simply can’t achieve otherwise. Whether you’re buying your first planer or…
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How to Turn Trees Into Firewood (The Right Way)
If trees grow where you live, then making them into firewood is a great way to reduce heating costs and get exercise. I’ve been cutting firewood and heating with it for 35+ years, and there are five main steps to…
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Why Fathers and Grandfathers Matter More Than Ever
I’ve been around long enough to notice what seems like a serious deterioration in the state of the family, and especially in the amount of meaningful interaction between fathers, grandfathers and children. In my own case, I’m fortunate enough to…
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What a Wood Moisture Meter Tells You That Your Eyes Simply Cannot Detect
Have you ever picked up a piece of lumber, run your hand over it, and declared it dry, only to watch it warp or gap weeks after you built something with it? Wood has a way of looking and feeling…
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LAMINATE FLOORING: Download a Free Hands-On How-To Guide
“Canada’s Handiest Man”, Steve Maxwell, shares his tips for picking and installing the right laminate wood flooring for your home.
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PHILOSOPHY: The Art of Loving in an Impermanent World
Too few kids these days get to grow up wearing nothing but a swim suit all summer long. Country life puts everyone into constant contact with nature, and childhood experiences with rural places can be create memories and strengths that last a life time. Saying goodbye to these times can be hard, but there’s value in it, too.
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WOOD-FREE WOODWORKING: Composite Lumber for Fine Outdoor Projects
Wood isn’t the only material you can plane, rout, mill and join to create refined workshop projects. Composite deck lumber can also be used for fine “woodworking”, despite the fact that it’s designed for outdoor use supporting deck chairs, barbecues and people relaxing. Even though I’ve worked with composites for more than ten years – including the construction of simple outdoor furniture – I didn’t realize the full potential of composites until I was asked to tackle an unusual project.
