“Measure twice, cut once” no longer applies after you learn this slick new trick. Editor-at-large Chuck Miller has found a fast and easy way to save a short board from the scrap bin in this episode of There’s a Better Way.
Watch more video tips:
Make a Custom Holesaw to Remove Stripped Screws
The Fine Homebuilding Podcast team chats about how to prevent roof sheathing from rotting.
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
View Comments
Now THAT is amazing. Just think of how much lumber that will save! Where can I get some?
Augusto Uno
Saskatoon
But doesn't that make the board thinner? The extra length has to come from somewhere. And I remember a similar product, some years ago, by a Norwegian inventor named Loof Lirpa. Anybody remember him?
Nice April Fools's Chuck!
Sherry
I can see that the wire on the come along isn't taunt while you were "stretching" the board. I'm impressed that you could do this with a straight face, though!
Chuck, you might be able to fool the guys but not this lady!
Sherry again
Chuck,
Its great to see you promote such a fantastic product.
The best part is that the stuff is inexpensive and available in 55 gallon drums. I've been using it for years to save money. I just buy 8' two by fours when I need 10 footers. Just slosh a couple buckets on a bunk of them at the end of the day, cover it with a tarp overnight and the next morning, I've got all the 10 footers I need.
Truly fantastic stuff indeed!
I found this stuff at my local home center.. Right next to the plaid paint
I've also used this product to stop those squeeks
you get from worn muffler bearings. Works great!
LOL!!!
You clearly state that the board stretcher (we prefer the Dumbfix brand)will allow up to 20% increase in length but you increased that board 25%. That's a code violation...
Would I be able to paint that around my 1-story shed and then use jacks on the inside to press the roof up to create a 1 1/2 story shed? I'm too lazy to take the roof apart to add the additional space...
Great video though...science has come so far!
The board stretcher is good, but the hammer nail set is terrific! I've gotten so good now I can pick mosquitoes out of the air and 'nail' them to a board with one swing.
Do you know the release date for Miller's Board Stretcher II which I hear will also work across the grain. I am hoping this will work as well as the original product so I can utilize on plywood.
Does it only work on wood? ;)
At 5'3", I'm taking a bath in this stuff tonight to become the height of my dreams!
April Fools! Better than my husband telling me that he got a job across the country and we're moving!...Even if it were possible, would be cheaper just to buy a new piece of wood(unless it's from some rare tree in the middle of the Congo that's illegal to import anyway)Looks like wallpaper paste. Don't buy any used cars from Chuck!! :)
This has to be an April Fool's Joke.
But you didn't cover the problem with springback. I tried this product and it worked just fine, and managed to stretch a board a full 20%. However, it shrunk again overnight by about 10%, so that now my board is not long enough to use as a 5 foot piece, and it is too long to use as a 4 foot piece. I really don't know what to do next...
You mean I can't use my favorite line anymore ? "I cut it twice and it's still too short "
I love these but am still a greenie. What is the tool you are pumping to stretch the board? How do you set it up? Doesn't this weaken the properties of a board? I don't think I'd like a house built that had 10' ceilings because all the studs were stretched 8'ers.
Topic- "Make a long thin drill bit for snaking small wires."
I wanted to drill a whole for normal size wire in 4" thick brick wall. I did not have such a long bit. I took an iron rod 12" long & a little thicker than a pencil having spiral threads on it. I made one end of it sharp with grinding stone. On the tip I made spiral lines with haksaw blade. 1st I made a thick hole in the wall with a normal bit used for making holes in wall. then i changed the bit with the rod I made I drilled. The hole came all through the wall.
Sunkersett.
This is clearly a hoax! The elastomeric compound was applied only to the top of the board. Therefore, only the top would stretch. Therefore, when released, the board would assume a bow shape (the top is longer than the bottom).
That didn't happen. Therefore, a hoax.
Unless, of course, the bottom side was precoated to save filing time.
Therefore, maybe it does work.
Therefore, my judgement may have been premature.
VinceR
Oakhurst, NJ
I needed that last Thursday. Since I didn't know I had to settle for 2 p 10 which was ok but unfortunately showed a glue joint.
Too bad, sounds like an AFD joke, but couldn't get it to play. It so happens that if the browser addon "Do Not Track" is enabled for FHB's website (of which I am a paid member) FHB won't allow their videos to play. Disable the addon, no problem.
I can understand the necessity of an ad revenue stream to keep things going, but apparently it's screw you if you prefer not to have your every move tracked, even though you have already paid for the privilege of viewing the content.
Keep this up, Fine Homebuilding Magazine, and there will not be a next time ... at least from this quarter.
FWIW, the following 13 tracking entities track every single visit _you_ make to the video url:
Comscore Beacon Blocked
ShareThis Blocked
Brightcove Blocked
Google Adsense Blocked
Quantcast Blocked
Netratings Site Census Blocked
Doubleclick Blocked
Google Analytics
Google +1 Blocked
Facebook Connect
Quantcast
Nielson
Dedicated Networks
Do they make a formulation for granite?
Could April 1 have anything to do with the video?
I listened with interest about the "Measure twice, cut once" opportunity. Not 1 hour later I was cutting some dimenisional lumber when I, unfortunately cut one short. I went to Home Depot and bought a galon of this product and laid it on thick. Because it was 4 X 8 material I let it sit longer than in the video. It worked! However it bowed, guess it will take longer in the future.
This sounds like a bacon stretcher?
Well done fooled me big time
I went and googled it before I woke up it was April Fool's Day
Fantastic fun and excellent delivery
want it to work on my wallet in the future
Love your work
Les
Too funny.
Chuck, you crack me up! Such a serious presentation!
But what really got my attention was your vest; where did you get it?
Much easier to cut new wood than to go through this laborious and messy process.
Guys look at the date of video (April the 1st)
Thanks for all your comments folks. You've got me LOL too. Grecci, the vest is by Occidental. Here's a link:
http://bestbelt.com/product/belt-free/2585_beltless.html
cheers,
Chuck
Chuck, did you try this out on any human body parts too?
If you look closely, you'll see that it's a knot remover too!
I wonder if this would work for misdrilled holes. I had to return my reversible drill because the reversing feature didn't work -- the hole was still there.
I used this stuff once and it does work .you should where gloves when using this product.I got some on my fingers went to pick up a 5 gallon pail of paint now my fingers are longer on one hand than the other
I used this stuff once and it does work .you should where gloves when using this product.I got some on my fingers went to pick up a 5 gallon pail of paint now my fingers are longer on one hand than the other
Yes this was a great tip
BENJAMIN RAUCHER
no body took into fact that 20% of 4 feet is 9 5/8" light
Telling the new guy to run and get the "board stretcher" from my truck now has a new application. Tell him to run and get the gallon of "board stretcher potion" from the truck!
Now I'm confused, do I have to start stocking up on this board stretcher stuff in storage or is this really an april fool's day thing? It'd really be quite amazing if this really works - the physics of it is that the board CAN stretch a little, but 20% is pretty miraculous... Can somebody come up with an official statement whether this post is legit or not?