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70 DIY tips, thought you might enjoy, from Popular Mechanics: https://www.popularmechanics.com/home/skills/know-your-stuff-the-110-best-diy-tips-ever#slide-1
“Hole in One
Enlarged screw holes can be quickly repaired, we said in March 1972, by filling the hole with a wooden golf tee. Use a hacksaw to saw the tee flush with the wood’s surface, then sand and finish.”
Stopped by to see my long-time friend Jack Fulton last week. Jack is by profession a photographer, also a builder. In the ’60s, Jack and I learned a lot about building from Jack’s uncle, Alec Fulton. A jovial Scotsman, Alec took the time to teach us novices. Among other things, he taught me how to join cast-iron drainpipes with hot lead (and oakum) — in the days just before ABS and PVC drain pipe replaced cast iron.
Anyway, Jack had just finished rebuilding the entire front wall of his house (termite damage, new continuous foundation), and these well-used hammers were lying around. The smaller has been my go-to tool belt hammer for many years. A Plumb 16″ with fiberglass handle. I like the straight, rather than a curved claw: better for de-nailing as well as digging in the dirt. Aesthetically, I like wooden handles, but the fiberglass has a bit of spring in it which is comfortable.
I’ve been using chainsaws for many years, have probably owned 5 or 6. These days it’s a Stihl Woodboss MS270, 24″ bar. Every year I pick up mostly wind-felled oak on country roads, haul it home, cut it into stove-size lengths, then rent a splitter for a day and stockpile a year’s or more worth of firewood. I used chainsaws extensively in the ’60s and ’70s, cutting up redwood (from the beaches or windfallen trees in the woods) into bolts, and which I then split into shakes. Point is, I’ve had a lot of chainsaw experience.
The other day I was sawing through a piece of wood on the woodpile and as I finished the cut, the blade hit a log below it and snapped back towards my face. It sent a chill of adrenaline that I felt somehow in my ears. Very scary.
I was wearing my Husqvarna helmet, which combines skull protection, ear guards, and a metal mesh facemask. (I’ve only been using the helmet the last few years, prompted by a log rolling down the hill and knocking me down — I should have had one of these helmets all along.)
This time the blade didn’t reach my face, but if it had, the mask would’ve stopped it from carving up flesh.
I urge you chain saw users: get one of these. $50 or so. Play it safe, please. The more hours you’ve operated chainsaws, the more the chance of a freak accident. Experience doesn’t make you invulnerable.
PS I always sharpen the teeth after use, so it’s ready when I next pick it up.
The Maker Faire was just great. I’d never think that something so nerd-oriented would appeal to me, but there was soul in addition to all the robots and tech wizardry. We had a booth in the “Homegrown Village” section and sold more books than we have at any event ever. The booth, designed by Lew Lewandowski and manned by Lew and my son Evan, was mobbed the entire 2 days, most of the interest being in our Tiny Homes book.
My talks on “The Half-Acre Homestead” went well; maybe 125 kindred spirits in the audience each day.
I first heard the phrase from a friend who went to work for a hot new company during the tech boom. Well, uh, OK. But in spite of its dorky sound, it has real meaning for someone like me.
I’m all over the place. Can’t help it. Always have been. Everything in this world is just so daggone interesting. Especially now. I think I appreciate the computer more than younger people because of where I come from. It’s such a breath-taking span from hot lead type to InDesign, from bulky dictionaries to Google, from rotary phones to the iPhone 5. (Part of my excuse for being so eclectic.)
Back to leveraging: I’d like to sell more books, I’d like to get us more income so we can get out of the 40-year-old scrambling for $$ to pay the printers. I had an idea: to take targeted sections of this blog and turn them into eBooks. Say homesteading. For people interested in homesteading, but not necessarily in Muddy Waters or skateboarding.
You homesteaders and gardeners out there: would you pay $2.99 or $3.99 for an ebook based on a selection from my homesteading posts? Go down on the far right column and under “Topics,” click on “homesteading.”
I don’t know about a print book. It could be done but might cost too much.
I’ve put up over 3500 posts now. Does it make sense to separate this mass into subjects and reach “targeted” audiences?
In Louie’s shop, this old carpenter’s bench from a high school woodshop. There’s another vice kitty corner on the other side. It’s made to be utilized by two students. There’s a swing-out stool on each side; you can just see the hinge on the right leg here. I’d love to find something like this, but can’t locate anything either on eBay or craigslist.
I brought up my wood carving tools (shown here laid out on Louie’s workbench) and we spent some time carving out a spoon from some (halfway seasoned) plum wood. Here are a few photos: Louie’s strap for carrying cases of wine, made out of upholstery strap and drilled-out branch handle; his band saw (a powerful tool); Louie using a “slick,” a large chisel used by ship builders — the blade is slightly curved, it’s a pleasure to use it.
Will try to put up more photos from trip if I get the time.
Pinetop Perkins playing boogie woogie now. Years ago I walked by the Sweetwater bar in Mill Valley and there was a sign saying “Tonight — Pinetop Perkins.” Yeow! I was there. He was in his ’80s, slim, wearing a purple suit with lavender tie. It was rare, like getting a chance to see Muddy Waters (who he played with). He flirted with the ladies. “Put on your high-heel sneakers, wear your wig hat on your head.…”
Last night saw Skyfall, the latest James Bond movie. I loved it. A bit overlong, but very enjoyable. Sly tongue in cheek plot w. references to the old Bond movies. Great photography, stylish graphics, good acting. Now here’s a good mainstream American movie.
Such great stuff now coming in for our new book on 20th century nomadics. It’s kinda like I’m a spectator watching all these great stories, adventures and photos come in. Book as living organism.
This Delta radial arm saw must be 50 years old. Bought it used in the ’70s. Has worked flawlessly ever since. American made. At left is a Back Revolution machine, sold by Stretching Inc. Use to invert and stretch spine. You hang upside down by yr. hips.
Time to venture out into the day. This afternoon, old friend Don Manoukian coming by. Don played for the Oakland Raiders in the late ’50s, was a professional wrestler known as “The Bruiser.” From a big Reno Armenian family, his mom was a great cook.
There’s No Place Like Here: Liberty Tool from Etsy on Vimeo.
Thanks to Mike W.
This is a book I wished I’d had when I started building, but it is also one that’s extraordinarily useful to more experienced builders. Mike Litchfield was the original editor of Fine Homebuilding; in 1982 he published the first version of Renovation, and it’s been updated periodically, this being the latest and 4th edition. Popular Science called it “The most comprehensive single volume on renovation ever” — totally true.
What differentiates this book from others of its ilk is that the author has gathered all this information in the field, interviewing carpenters, electricians, plumbers, and contractors, finding out what’s important, what works, what’s new. These guys love to talk about what they do well, and in this sense, the book is one of collective wisdom. It’s at the same time highly useful to professionals, but also one that’s invaluable for homeowners and people of the fixer-upper persuasion.…
See Full review on Cool Tools here.