Earlier this fall I climbed onto a small, deteriorating roof that I hadn’t walked on for 30 years, and it got me thinking about how buildings can be anchors for our lives. That’s the roof on the left, half reshingled. I’d […]
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 ReadingChoosing a Toilet That Really Works
As gross as this looks, it’s not what you think it is. These cylinders of soybean paste are especially formed for testing toilets. And testing like this has done a lot to improve the performance of toilets around the world. Read on to see how . . .
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 […]
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Learn More from Bailey Line Road
Q&A: How to Stop Knot Stains Bleeding Through Painted Woodwork
Got some painted solid wood trim at your house? You’ve probably got ugly knots showing through, too. Solve the problem once and for all using more than just hope and an old wives tale.
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 […]
Continue ReadingHOW-TO: Jointing Wood Flat & True
Woodworking success often depends on boards that are flat, true and square. The jointer is the tool that creates these essential conditions. Watch and see how to use a jointer properly.
Continue ReadingVIDEO: Five Reasons to Love Masonry
Masonry is the king of building materials in many ways. Watch Steve’s video on the Five Reasons to Love masonry to see why.
Continue ReadingVIDEO: How to Paint Kitchen Cabinets
I love wood, but even I have to admit that there is such a thing as too much wood in a house. That’s where paint can help, especially when it comes to kitchen cabinets. Prepare that old, brown varnished surface […]
Continue ReadingINSIDE THE BOX: Benefits, beauty & tricks of gardening with pots, planters & hanging baskets
There’s more to gardening than digging a hole in the ground and planting something. Pots, planters and hanging baskets add a lot to gardening results. Check out how Mary and I do container gardening at our place on Manitoulin Island.
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