Outdoor wood finishing seems simple until you try to keep new wood looking new. Cedar, pine and other exterior woods can look beautiful when freshly built, but sun, rain and time quickly change the colour and surface. The real question…
Stacking firewood in round piles can look unusual at first, but it’s one of the most practical ways I’ve found to store wood outdoors. After more than 25 years of stacking firewood in straight rows, I switched to round piles…
Good hand planes are still some of the most useful woodworking tools you can own, even in a shop full of power tools. A sharp, well-tuned plane can smooth wood, fit joints, trim edges, shape raised panels and create finished…
The term “passive house” refers to a certain style of building that uses far less energy than an ordinary home, not by relying mainly on high-tech heating equipment, but by reducing the need for heating and cooling in the first…
A table saw is one of the most useful woodworking machines you can own. It cuts accurately, handles repeat work well, and makes many home workshop and renovation jobs easier. But because the blade is exposed and powerful, table saw…
Steve Maxwell, Canada’s Handiest Man, talks about pin nailers, specialized woodworking power tools that are perfect for creating nearly invisible wood joints.
Steve Maxwell, Canada’s Handiest Man, urges homeowners to maintain their oil tank heating systems and avoid an environmental mess and expensive clean up.
Canada’s Handiest Man, Steve Maxwell, informs homeowners about the Safer Living Homes campaign and discusses the importance building of strong homes.
Steve Maxwell, Canada’s Handiest Man, explains an alternative option to completely replacing hot water pipes when pinhole leaks appear in high-rise condominiums.
In most homes connected to a municipal sewer system, a backwater valve is a smart upgrade because it allows sewage to flow out but not back in. If your area is vulnerable to sewer overload during heavy rain, it can…
Can you really build fine furniture from construction lumber? Yes, you can. The secret is knowing which boards to buy, how dry they need to be, which parts of each board to keep, and how to finish the wood so…
Good woodworking often comes down to small details that are easy to overlook. Saw blades and router bits are a perfect example. Even a very good saw or router can perform poorly with a dirty blade, a dull cutter, or…