Have you ever heard about solar generators? They’re an up-and-coming portable energy technology that lets you make modest amounts of electricity without connection to the utility grid and without burning any fuel or making any noise.
Continue ReadingAMISH CARPENTERS & CORDLESS TOOLS
Cordless tools have been at the leading edge of the building scene for decades, but not everyone who embraces cordless tools are leading edge people. Take the Amish for instance. Although they call themselves “the plain people”, they dress in […]
Continue ReadingGREAT PLIERS: Why IRWIN GrooveLocks Are My Favourite
UPDATED 8Jun2018: In theory, I suppose it’s possible to live without tools in your life, but why would you want to? So many of today’s home maintenance and fix-up jobs are a snap to complete with just a few basics, […]
Continue ReadingCHOOSING A CONTRACTOR: What the Good Guys Really Look Like
Earlier this year my son and I had the chance to make a few promo videos about four good contractors who were hired to rescue serious renovation disasters left behind by bad contractors. At least one of the bad guys […]
Continue Reading
Got a Question for Steve?
HOME STANDBY GENERATORS: How To Get Uninterrupted Electric Power at Your Home – No Matter What
More and more people are deciding to get proactive about maintaining electrical power supply at their home, cottage and businesses during an outage, and that’s why home standby generators are gaining in popularity. They provide a secondary source of electricity […]
Continue ReadingQ&A of the Week: “How Can I Shorten a Door to Allow for New Flooring?”
Q: What’s the best way to shorten two wooden doors as part of a laminate floor job I’m planning? I need advice for marking and cutting the bottom of these doors accurately. A: This job is actually trickier than it […]
Continue ReadingBRICK VENEER: A Great Homebuilding Option
Masonry wasn’t my favourite homebuilding material when I got involved in building and renovation back in the mid-1980s, but 30 years of dealing with reality has changed my mind. Brick veneer, in particular, offers the best combination of quality and […]
Continue ReadingTHICKNESS PLANERS: Tips for Choosing & Using One
Steve Maxwell, Canada’s Handiest Man and a tool master, discusses the thickness planers woodworking power tool.
Continue ReadingRUSTIC, MAINTENANCE-FREE SIDING: A Close Look at One Option
When it comes to exterior siding for homes and cottages in rural locations, it’s not easy to find a durable option that works visually. For some of us at least, choices such as vinyl or aluminum siding simply look too […]
Continue ReadingFLAT TIRE FIX: Don’t Forget Grandpa’s Advice About Valve Leaks
POSTED 16May2018: Last Saturday I got busy fixing a flat tire on my lawn tractor, and the job took much longer than it needed to. I endured more anguish than necessary during the task, and I wasted money, all because […]
Continue Reading