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The drawing shows the spindle applicator I use when I hang tar paper. It consists of three 1-1/2-in.dia. plugs cut from 3/4-in. stock, a pair of 1/4-in. by 3-1/2 in.-dia. Plexiglas…

When I need to bore an especially clean hole, such as one for a screw plug, I typically apply the simple principle of opening up my wallet; I use pricey,…

In Brooklyn, where turn-of-the-century brownstones and bricks are the norm, window replacement often calls for some ingenuity. I have used both Bonneville and Andersen brick-to-brick replacement windows. These units are…

With a couple of simple modifications, you can turn your tablesaw into a jointer for straightening a bowed edge on a board. As shown in the drawing, begin by screwing…

Random-orbit sanders that can suck up sawdust as they make it are a wonderful invention. But for them to work properly, they need to have the holes in the disks…

For many years, I have worn leather gloves for heavy construction work, and I have found that the inexpensive, stiff gloves last just as long as the expensive, soft, pliable…

Plenty of commercially available sawhorse brackets are on the market, but I’ve found that the ones I weld up for myself suit my needs better than any I have seen.…

For fiberglass-batt insulation to perform at its best, it needs to fit tightly into every nook and cranny. When I have to cut batts to insulate the intersections at the…

If I installed more tile, I’d probably learn to avoid getting thinset mortar all over my clothes. But as I finished up a floor the other day, I realized that…

This simple template and a router make quick work of hinge mortises.