DIY Projects

A Do It Yourselfer may choose a circular saw for the same reasons that carpenters and building contractors have used them for years: they are powerful, portable, able to be set up to rip, crosscut and cut many non-wood materials.

Circular saws come in a few different sizes (based on the diameter of the saw blade), from 4″ up to the most common size, 7-1/4″. They also are typically rated by horsepower and/or RPMs of the saw blade.

When choosing a circular saw, I recommend you buy one that has higher horsepower than other models of the same size. While a 1-HP 7-1/4″ circular saw would probably be adequate, I like models that are at least two horsepower, as they are less likely to bind when under a load.

Did you know that if you are looking for a new surface for you router tabletop, plastic laminate is an ideal surface for router tables, and light colors are very desirable as they make the work piece more visible. They also allow you to make pencil marks indicating start and stop positions for cuts.

The ideal tabletop is a medium density fiberboard (MDF) substrate covered with plastic laminate. Make sure you cover both faces, to equalize tension and avoid warping. And to make it smooth, sand the top with 400 grit wet/dry paper. The first time you do this, it’s a little unnerving to sand brand new laminate!

After sanding, use a tack cloth to clean the top. Then make it slick by rubbing in a coat of clear shoe polish. Buff the shoe polish for an incredibly smooth, slick surface that won’t rub off on your unfinished wooden work pieces.

An impact wrench is also known as an air gun, air wrench, or torque gun. They are designed to deliver high torque output, with minimal exertion by the user.

Impact wrenches are widely used in many industries, including auto repair, heavy equipment maintenance, product assembly, and major construction projects. Anywhere high torque output is needed.

Impact wrenches are available in every standard socket wrench drive size, from small 1/4″ drive tools for small assembly and disassembly, up to 3.5″ and larger square drives for major construction. Impact wrenches are one of the most commonly used air tools and are found in virtually every mechanic’s shop.

In general terms, a router table consists of a flat table surface with a router attached to the bottom. The router is mounted with its base attached to the underside of the table and the bit sticking up through a hole in table’s surface. The table holds the router securely, leaving the woodworker free to keep both hands on the work piece during the cut.

Whichever type of router table you choose, make sure it is flat, smooth, slick, and stable. Flat and smooth are obvious. But why slick? Work pieces need to slide easily against both the table and the fence, creating the least amount of friction, so each pass is smooth and even. And stable is a major safety feature.

Jigsaws make straight, curved and internal cuts through a variety of materials including wood, tile and metal. They offer the combination of cutting agility with portability and lightweight size. They can make light work of many cutting jobs including holes in worktops and openings for electrical outlets.

Jigsaws operate using a tiny vertical blade that moves up and down at a rate of up to 3,000 strokes per minute. They’re not the fastest saws, but they’re precise and easy to maneuver . Think about the types of jobs you need it for and then decide on the type of jigsaw and features you’ll really benefit from.

Since jigsaw blades can bend and overheat, it is better to use a jigsaw on thinner materials, and remember to always choose the correct type of blade. Choose either a fine, medium or coarse blade with a variety of teeth.

A router is a woodworking tool used to hollow out an area in the face of a piece of wood. Sometimes they are called router planes. Some workers consider it to be the single most versatile woodworking power tool.

A plunge router, allows you to plunge the router bit downward and into the stock, make the desired cut, and then lift the bit back out of the stock.

When looking at routers, the most important feature to look for is the horsepower rating of the motor. I wouldn’t buy any router that is less than 2-HP, as you’ll need that power to push some bigger bits through stock.

You’ll want to spend a little extra to get one that has a variable speed control. Single-speed routers are fine as long as you’re using small bits, but keep in mind: the larger the bit, the slower the cutting speed needs to be. Otherwise, you’re likely to burn the bit.
The router you purchase should have ergonomic handles that feel comfortable in your hands. Some routers have one large, pistol-grip style handle that you hold with your dominant hand, while your second hand wraps around the motor housing of the router to stabilize the unit. Other models offer two handles on opposite sides of the base. Choose whichever model feels comfortable in your hands.

No matter which handle style you prefer, be certain that the power switch is within easy reach when your hands are on the router. You don’t want to remove your hand to turn off the motor.

On a Plunge router, the handles are on opposite sides of the base, and the depth gauge should be within easy reach of your thumb without removing your hand from the grip.

Dad’s never satisfied unless he’s wielding the latest hardware technology (whether he actually uses it or not!). Here are a few excellent hardware gifts that are sure to delight fathers everywhere. Remember, it doesn’t have to be practical for him to love it!

~Cordless Drills – a cordless drill and set of drill bits are a great gift with numerous practical applications. That creaking cupboard, loose railing, or sagging gutter is sure to be repaired quick with dad wielding one of these!

~Laser Level – these unique levels project a straight line on the wall, allowing dad to hang pictures, clocks, or wall ornaments with accuracy.

~Wrench Set – for those dads who love working on their cars, machines, and engines, a wrench set is essential.

When working on a do-it-yourself wall or ceiling project that requires a considerable amount of elbow grease, one can do with all the help he or she can get. Fortunately, there are drywall sanders to lighten the load. They ably remove substantial amounts of finishing material, smoothen out drywalls, collect dust and ensure that new applications are at their best.

Logically, sanders come in many different types to complement the wide-ranging DIY ventures. The small hand-held ones are called detail sanders and are ideal for sanding around unusual shapes and little nooks in woodworks. A pad or palm sander is the slightly bigger models that use ¼ or 1/3 sheets of sandpaper, are versatile, and may or may not have a dust collection bag or system. Since they can quickly eliminate plenty of material, belt sanders have adjustable speeds, along with a continuous loop of sandpaper that extends across two wheels. Other types of sanders are the random orbit, disc and spindle sanders.

Forstner bits are a type of drill bit used to bore precise, flat bottomed holes in wood. They can cut on the edge of a block of wood and can also cut overlapping holes.

Forstner bits are perfect for dowling, mortising, pocket holes & hardware installation.

Pre sharpened bits can be used on any type of wood.

A Forstner bit is generally best suited to be used in a drill press, since the bits are guided by the outside rim and require great force to push them into the material.

During the summer I helped one of my buddies with a massive home renovation. One of the main projects was putting on a new roof; a task that he estimated would take the two of us about a week. As you can probably guess, it ended up taking us well over two months, thanks in large part to a blunder that led to the collapse of the garage ceiling.

Instead of opting for traditional rafters, he thought that it would be quicker to use trusses: big mistake. The roof design was rather complicated, and none of the trusses aligned correctly. For weeks we had to climb around the roof with our reciprocating saws, making minor adjustments and positioning the each truss.