How should I prepare dirty, interior wood stairs for finishing? I’m remodelling my parents’ home and part of the work involves finishing a staircase that was left bare and unprotected after it was built 10 years ago. Read on for Steve’s advice.
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DOWEL JOINERY: Why It’s Easy to Love This Great Woodworking Technique
Dowel joints are one of the easiest, strongest and more versatile way to connect wood parts. Read Steve’s quick-start guide on how to succeed with dowel joints
Continue ReadingHOW TO PAINT: 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.
Continue ReadingBACKYARD CHICKEN HOUSE: Download Free Building Plans
UPDATED 19Oct2018: When it comes to keeping chickens, I’m always surprised at how many people want to do it. Even though store-bought eggs are cheap and plentiful, there’s something about keeping chickens that remains attractive. Actually, it’s getting more attractive […]
Continue ReadingINTERESTING PEOPLE: Cathedral Painters Work Miracles of Craftsmanship
If you haven’t been to an old church for a while, you might consider going at least for the view. There’s a lot more painting skill behind traditional churches than you might realize, and it’s definitely worth looking at. Alex […]
Continue ReadingPortable Natural Gas Generators: How to Choose and Use Them
UPDATED 24Oct2019: Home generators can make up for a sad reality of life these days. The reliability of our electricity supply isn’t what it used to be. Utility companies have cut back on line maintenance and sometimes electricity demand across North […]
Continue ReadingLessons Learned From an Old Roof
A couple of autumns ago I climbed onto a small, deteriorating roof that I hadn’t walked on for 30 years. The activity got me thinking about how buildings can be anchors for our lives and guide posts for how we […]
Continue ReadingPersonal Responsibility? See This Warning on a Cardboard Box
A roll of plastic pipe I ordered a while back arrived in a carton that makes me concerned. A stern, 15-word warning of the sort I’m seeing more and more often is the reason why. It highlights a creeping menace […]
Continue ReadingIDEAS: Leaving a Legacy
Leonard Lee, famous Canadian and founder of Lee Valley Tools, died on July 7, 2016 and that got me thinking about something. Mr. Lee improved the lives of a lot of people with the business he started and the life […]
Continue ReadingTOOLS: Two Portable Workstation Strategies
More than one old-timer I know tells how new carpenters used to be judged on the job by their ability to build a sawhorse. If they could deal successfully with the required angles and joints of a sawhorse, creating something solid and […]
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