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Construction is a team sport that demands training, practice, discipline, coordination, and a clear game plan.
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Honoring the people behind the tools that changed our lives.
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As both a master plumber and master electrician, I drill more holes for pipe and wire in a day than most tradesmen might in a week. It seems like I've got a drill in my hands most of the day, and more often than not it's a cordless tool. Using cordless drills improves convenience, safety, and speed...
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Whether you install a kitchen a week or a half dozen customs a year, having task-specific tools on site increases both productivity and quality. From layout to lifting and scribing to screwing, check out some of the tools I use to help streamline the process and make sometimes troublesome details...
Tracking the landscape of the tool industry is sort of like mapping Europe since the Cold War ended.
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Engineered lumber does everything solid-sawn lumber does, except better. It's stronger, lighter, straighter, and more stable. But working with I-joists and laminated veneer lumber (LVL) is different than solid-sawn lumber, so check out these tips for getting better, faster results.
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When I field-tested 12 new models, I checked-out depth and bevel adjustments, guard operations, view of the cut line, and, of course, power. I also looked for features like easy blade changes, electric brakes, adequate dust ejection, and comfort.
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Working in concrete and masonry can be fun?at least in theory. Knocking down a brick or block wall, drilling anchor holes in concrete, and even hogging off ceramic tile can be an adrenaline-rich, physical diversion from the office and clients. But anyone who's spent much time drilling or chipping...
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Beads of sweat collect on my brow whenever I hand out belt sanders during the boat building classes I teach. In the wrong hands these powerful tools can easily do more damage?like sanding through the hull of a boat in seconds?than good. The same is true for belt sanders on the jobsite. A racing...
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Router conversion kits are the latest evolution in router design and utility. By using a detachable, exchangeable motor that can be transferred in and out of either a plunge-base or a fixed-base configuration, tool manufacturers provide two routers in one package.
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The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is focusing its attention on what some call the 'Big 4' causes of jobsite injuries and deaths: falls, trench and excavation accidents, electrocutions, and workers being struck by or caught by equipment. In addition to the focus on these...
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Long before I became a builder, I used gasoline-powered portable cut-off saws in the Air Force for crash and rescue recovery work to cut through automobile and airplane wreckage and buildings. I left the Air Force long ago, but not the saws. Now I build homes in Santa Fe, N.M., and work with as...
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For large jobs, I run from four to six framing nailers per crew, and I need a compressor that keeps up as those carpenters are nailing like crazy. Whether we're gang?nailing sheathing or sinking nails into LVL, when the compressor tank is drawn down, waiting for a weak compressor to cycle on or...
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Most of the custom homes I build have two stories and therefore require a set of stairs, and, except for a wrought iron spiral job, every staircase gets built on site. To make it easy to remember all the nuances of stair framing, I use a three-stage building checklist that helps me stay on track as...
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I can't count the number of times I've needed the dimensions, square footage, or volume of a room quickly and wished there was a faster way. In new construction, getting measurements with a tape is time consuming. In remodels, taking these measurements can be tedious. The only solution is to put my...
High-volume, low-pressure (HVLP) paint sprayers are light, mobile, and provide a finish far superior to even your nicest paintbrush. They also make the job go faster and are less tiring than painting by hand. As a cabinetmaker and on-site finisher, I've used HVLP sprayers for more than 15 years...
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I don't know of any trade that requires as many specialized tools as door hanging. Sure, you can do a perfect job with a circular saw, a sharp set of chisels, and a jack plane, but these days, production?not just craftsmanship ?is a prerequisite to earning a living as a finish carpenter, and that...
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As a framing contractor, I use medium crown staplers to fasten acres of wall sheeting every year, but they're also invaluable for building interior details like tub platforms, shower seats, fireplace surrounds, and arches. I used to tackle these projects with a framing nailer, building 2-by pony...
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By Steve Veroneau. Picture these scenarios: You've agonized to measure, double-check, and line up a complicated roofline, but after nailing up the rafters, you notice that the fascia lines are out of whack. Here are a few layout methods with built-in double-checks that can help solve problems...
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You may not think much of taping up a dinged extension cord, but this common practice is not only dangerous, but it also could set you up for a hefty fine if an OSHA compliance officer sees it in use. Here are some serious reminders about electrical safety.
Manufacturers are unveiling an array of new product picks packed with features and specs to satisfy every toolhound.
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You can install manufactured stone on interior and exterior applications over most types of construction surfaces, and you don't need wall-ties, footings, or special structural support to hold the stone -- even in earthquake regions.
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We brake metal all over our remodeling projects and use it for everything from flashing to fascia material. Over my 20-year remodeling career, I've learned a few things about getting it right. A simple gauge, proper nailing, and using the correct bends speeds up installation, prevents callbacks...