If you have thought of pre-wiring your new house or basement recreation room, here is a product called Xspot Wire System invented by Mark Sipe that will make your job a lot easier.
A simplified explanation to how it works is to first realize that these pieces have magnets inside them. Through the holes shown on the top piece you run your wires, this is attached to a strapping behind the wallboard. After the wall is completed, you can find it with the magnet in the piece shown below.
Just think how much easier the installation would be if we knew exactly …read more

Wooden window boxes are an old concept, but on its way back.  They are a cheap way to add color to a drab exterior of your house. They do give the house a warmth, but they do require watering the planter every day. The rewards are a new pride in the look of your house.
The fact that you may be going to sell your house, there is not a better or cheaper way to improve the curb appeal of your home. Women do appreciate having their home have a warm, cozy and welcoming appearance.
This will give the …read more

The palm finishing sanders uses 1/4 pieces of sheets of sand paper. That is one sheet divided into 4 equal pieces, most people just use scissors.
This project is a simple job that will make your cutting the sheets of sandpaper very easy.
All you need is some left over pieces of wood; they have use 3/4 inch plywood for the base piece in this video, any hinges you may have sitting around and one hacksaw blade.
Building project video:

If you have always felt like you would like to tackle making your own picture frame, I have shown below materials and tools need for this project.
On the following web page you can find a how to video and printed instructions if so desired.
Materials

¾” poplar strips
½” poplar strips
¼” poplar strips
Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF)
Wood stain
Glass cut to frame size
Desired Colored Matting

Tools Requirements

Table saw
Router
Router table
Round over bit
Small round over bit
Core box bit
Straight bit
Wood adhesive
Glue spreader
Spring clamps
Miter gauge for table saw
Wood strip for table saw …read more

If you don’t like mosquitoes and other flying insects around your house and backyard in the summer, this maybe just the project for you.
With the economy the way it is, this may just be the Christmas project which would be cheap and quick to do.
This could be done with leftover pieces of wood, then completely paint and add a little decorative work (like painting on flowers or leaves). This would make for a nice Christmas gift for yourself or family member.
For measurements and instructions go to the following web site.
http://familyfun.go.com/decorating-ideas/gardening/feature/famf0602_proj_birdhous/famf0602_proj_birdhous.html

Plans for Tree Swallows and Eastern Bluebirds can be found at.
http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/wildlife/ndblinds/treeswal.htm

If the dog house is too small for your dog he will look into it but won’t use it. If it is too big it will be cold and drafty. What you want is that right size that keeps them warm, cozy and secure.
The right size can be determined by:

can the dog stand up
move around
lay down comfortably.

If you look on The Humane Society of the United States and look down the page to Giving Your Dog Proper Shelter, it gives proper instructions for the dog house you need.
The building items required for an average dog can …read more

Oh man do I love spring time, getting rid of all that snow that piles up in my yard is just an awesome feeling and it is great to see. Getting ready to head to the beach for a day and spending time camping with my family are things that I love to do. I also have a lot of work to do to the exterior of my house this summer, some painting touch ups, new sidewalk to pour as a result of my water service replacement and a deck to refinish using Thompson’s Water Seal.
The one thing I hate …read more

Knowing where to start your home renovations can some times be very tricky. We all want our kitchens, bathrooms and our main living rooms to look the nicest as that is where we spend most of our time. But when you are just starting off renovating and you want to learn how to “do it yourself” we don’t want everyone to see our mistakes, and lets face it, when you just start off renovating there is going to be a few mistakes.
Start from the bottom and work your way up!
When I started renovating my home I had the same …read more