Reader Tips - Page 74 of 213

While building and trimming staircases, I often run into odd angles that must have mitered trim applied. I find them simply by using a bevel gauge and a piece of…

Wrapping a strap around the bowl in a figure-8 pattern provides a sturdy handhold for pulling a toilet.

Last fall, we had a job putting new siding on a house. When we set up our pump jacks on the south side of the house, right below the eaves,…

Here’s a tip that your customers will thank you for. Before placing the light-switch plate back on the wall after painting a room, I write on the back of the…

A simple and effective way of patching small holes in plaster or drywall is done without tape. First, cut out the hole until you've got a rectangle. Then cut a…

When I installed a houseful of new windows, I had to run hundreds of screws with washers into the frames. I fumbled around for a while trying to find a…

I had to cut some acute angles on 11-in, wide, 16-ft. long oak planks. Rather than haul them back to the shop to use the radial-arm saw, I devised the cutting…

The next time you have to sink a nail in a place beyond your hammer's reach, try the technique shown in the drawing. Place the flat end of a 24-in.…

Obtaining the right-size shims for a job can be quick, easy, and precise if you put in about 10 minutes’ preparation. Begin with the shim stock. A proper shim has…

Running wires into airtight electrical boxes can be a pain. When the wires are stripped from their casing, one of them inevitably catches a rib on the back side of the…