UPDATED 17Aug2018: After more than 20 years of stacking firewood in square or linear piles, I discovered that stacking in round piles is not only easier and more stable, it’s also far more attractive. I’ve been doing it now for more than […]
Continue ReadingWOODWORKING: 4 Most Important Air-Drying Tips for Your Next Project
Learning to dry wood is one of the most important woodworking skills. Success depends on understanding what’s going on when wood dries, and how to make it happen reliably. Every woodworker needs to know this if they want to avoid disappointment.
Continue ReadingHOW TO FIX A STICKY WOODEN DOORS: Tips for Making Them Swing Easy Again
Steve Maxwell, Canada’s Handiest Man, explains solutions to a common problem during Canadian summers: wood doors swelling and sticking.
Continue ReadingMOLD STAIN REMOVAL VIDEO: See Oxygen-Based Cleaner In Action
Do you have mold and mildew stains to remove? Back in July 2018, I wrote a story on the evolution of oxygen-based stain removers over the last 10 years and how these products have advanced with next-generation formulations that are […]
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Learn More from Bailey Line Road
WINTERIZING WATER SYSTEMS: Simple System Is 100% Reliable
Got a seasonal water system to put away for the winter? Watch the video below to learn about a fast, fool-proof way to winterize pipes inside your place. It even works with washing machines, dishwashers and water dispensers. Perfect for […]
Continue ReadingSTONE HOME FINALE: Watch Video of Last Stone Being Laid
In July 1987, I laid the first stone in what would be the basement of my homestead house on Manitoulin Island, Canada. On July 26, 2018 I laid the last stone in the last of four peaks in this stone […]
Continue ReadingHOUSE & HOME: Two Properties With Two Great Video Stories
When it comes to houses, there are two ways to look at things. You can see a house simply as shelter and a place to keep your stuff, or you can see it as an energizing, beautiful refuge of comfort […]
Continue ReadingBRICK VENEER: Tech Tips for Successful Installations
There’s more than meets the eye when it comes to brick veneer. The word “veneer” implies something thin and skimpy, but it’s actually one full brick thick – about 3 1/2″. Most of the modern brick homes and commercial buildings […]
Continue ReadingHOME STANDBY GENERATORS: Choosing & Using Automatic Backup Power At Your Home
BONUS: Don’t miss the two tech videos below. More and more people are deciding to get proactive about electrical power supply at homes, cottages and small businesses, and that’s why standby generators are gaining in popularity. Declining reliability of the […]
Continue ReadingDETAIL SANDERS: Tips for Using This Key Tool for Outdoor Wood Refinishing
Summer is the season you’re most likely to refinish outdoor trim, door frames, window sashes and finickity woodwork of all kinds, and detail sanders are tools I’ve come to rely on for this kind of work. Also called multitools these days because they can also cut and grind, detail sanders are not for stripping back large expanses of bare wood.
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