Top Three Thickness Planer Questions & Maintenance Video
Steve answers the top three queries he’s asked about these benchtop woodworking tools.
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An Outhouse, a Misunderstanding and Some Laughs
I’ve come to realize that the ability to laugh is the most valuable home improvement skill of all, especially when you’re laughing at yourself. I was reminded of this when I left the city in 1986 to create a home and…
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Vintage Cedar Rail Fences Tell the Story of Hope
Each spring since 1987, I’ve maintained a nearly forgotten part of Canadian heritage that’s still a working feature of the rural landscape where I live on Manitoulin Island. Nestled along the shore of Lake Huron in Ontario, Canada, you’ll find…
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How an Old-Time Builder Created a Hotel Icon And a Brave Clerk Kept It Alive
It goes without saying that being a professional contractor is about making money. Building and renovation is a business. The contractors you hire have families to feed and retirements to hope for, just like the rest of us. But I’ve…
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Dealing With Turbulence on The River of Life
We all face troubles in life, but an idea I call the “River of Life” is immensely worthwhile when trouble gets big. Perhaps you’ll find the concept worthwhile, too. It occurred to me as I lay in bed shortly after…
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PORTABLE GENERATORS: How to Choose the Best Model for Your Next Power Outage
Thinking of buying a generator? Don’t do it before reading this article and watching the video. Everything you need to know about connecting a generator to your house is here, plus lots of insights on generator selection, and a FAQ…
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AIR-SOURCE HEAT PUMPS: These Systems Deliver Economical Heating & Cooling
How happy would you be if your utility company offered three kilowatt-hours of power for every one kilowatt-hour you paid for? Too good to be true? Not if you have a heat pump. Modern heat pumps both heat and cool…
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METALWORKING: See What Water Jet Cutting Can Do
Water jet cutting is a computer-controlled process that can create crisp, intricate cuts in metal of all kinds. A few years ago I had some parts cut out of mild steel at a shop that specializes in water jet cutting,…
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Everything You Need to Know About Home Water Filtration Systems
Clean water is very important for life, and making sure it is safe is key for our health. Home water filters can get rid of bad stuff in the water, making it taste better and smell better. They can also…
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DIY Deck Projects: Step-by-Step Guide to Building Your Dream Outdoor Space
Modern homes are so much better with expansive outdoor spaces for barbeques, family parties, relaxing, and unwinding. While you can hire a professional to install your deck, you can still create one from scratch. In fact, your input is exactly…
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Tips & Tricks for Building Great Outdoor Wood Projects
Got some outdoor building projects in mind? Heavy 6×6 and 8×8 timbers of the kind you can get at any building supply yard are a great material to use, and the tricks you’ll learn here will help make those timbers…
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STAIR TREAD TRICK: See Simple Jig on Video
Are you building or renovating wooden stairs? Or perhaps you need to precisely fit other pieces of wood tightly between two fixed surfaces? You’ll learn something useful with the video below. This is the first video I ever posted online,…
