The Family Handyman - Get Organiged PDF

BUILD IT. FIX IT. LIVE IT!
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GET ORGANIZED
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Q WHAT THE HECK IS MELAMINE?

Q SMART GARAGE DOOR OPENERS
Q WHY WE LIKE CARPENTER ANTS - PAGE 69
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Contents
EXPERT
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DIY ADVICE
SINCE 1951
ON THE COVER
This pegboard wall
can super-organize
your garage. It
even includes a
flip-up workbench!
Photographed by
Tom Fenenga
36
Super
47
Stone Top
50
Drill
54
Wood
60
Benchtop
Storage Patio Table Dock 101 Organizer
Organize your Pick a beautiful Build this handy Real-world This versatile
entire garage tile and then station to hold— solutions to cabinet is the
with this fast, just make the and charge—your prevent cracks, perfect solution
flexible system. simple base. drills and drivers. gaps, and more. for small stuff.
NOTE: Skipped pages represent advertisements that are not included in this digital edition. FAMILYHANDYMAN.COM SEPTEMBER 2017 1
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71 DO YOU PIN?
All of our best projects and tips are on
Pinterest, including complete projects
and plans for fall and beyond. Go to
5 Stuff We Love 71 Car + Garage pinterest.com/family_handyman
An electric riding mower, a Seven smart tips to help
space-saving miter saw, and you make the most of your
a comfortable bucket handle. time in the garage.
10 Handy Hints® 74 Home Tech

How to block cold drafts, A Wi-Fi garage door opener lets
cork your caulk tubes, and you operate your door from
rake without getting blisters. anywhere with a smartphone.
14 Best Pro Tips 77 What’s Wrong

Here’s how to pour a perfect, With This Picture?
long-lasting concrete slab. The backward sink trap,
the missing electrical box, and
27 DIY Essentials the upside-down air barrier.
Melamine particleboard can be
tricky to work with, but these 86 Reader Info
11 tips will help you master it. Want to know how to sub-
scribe, renew, send us a hint, START YOUR PROJECT RIGHT
AT FAMILYHANDYMAN.COM
63 Home Care + Repair and more? Check out this page! You’ll find indispensable how-to advice
Drive drywall screws like a pro, from our experts, easy-to-use project
choose the right wire connector, 88 Great Goofs® plans, and videos on all kinds of
and discover a good reason Smokin’ hot pants and the smoke home improvement topics.
to like carpenter ants. detector that just won’t die.
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Stuff We Love
Our favorite DIY tools, materials + gear. By Mark Petersen
WORTH THE SPLURGE
Cut grass without gas
R
yobi recently lent us a new 48-volt electric riding mower to try out (model RM480e; ryobitools.com),
and it really put a smile on my face. According to Ryobi, the mower can run for up to two hours at a
stretch—enough to cut 2 acres on a single charge.
Because this mower is completely electric, it’s super quiet, and you don’t have to worry about gas,
RYOBI TOOLS
belts, spark plugs or oil changes. It’s driven by three brushless motors (one for propulsion and one for
each mower blade) and has a 38-in., two-blade deck. It also has a nice, tight turning radius as well as LED head-
lights, which let me mow past sunset. The cup holders and USB ports for charging a cell phone are also a nice
touch. The RM480e costs about $2,500 at The Home Depot. MARK PETERSEN, ASSOCIATE EDITOR
FAMILYHANDYMAN.COM SEPTEMBER 2017 5

ST U F F WE LOVE
WORKSHOP WONDER
MOVE HEAVY MACHINES SAFELY

fter a harrowing ordeal moving my drill press from one
A side of the garage to the other, I finally bit the bullet and
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5RFNOHUDQG:RRGFUDIWDQGIURPRQOLQHUHWDLOHUV
handle ANDREW ZOELLNER, DIGITAL CONTENT EDITOR
T
he skinny plastic
handles that come
with most 5-gallon
buckets can hurt your hands
if you’re carrying a heavy load like sand,
salt or tools. They often break off too,
and then the bare metal really cuts into
your fingers. That’s why I love these
Snappy Grip ergonomic handles from
snappygrip.com.
SMART SOLUTION
Just break away the old bucket handle
with diagonal cutters or pliers, or smack it
on the floor with a hammer and then snap Scrape paint with less mess
on the new handle. They’re easy to install Scraping paint by hand is a tough, messy job. Oneida Air
and much bigger in diameter, making heavy Systems now makes the Viper Scraper, which you connect to a
buckets more comfortable to lug around. shop vacuum so it’ll suck up the dust and paint chips as you
The handles are available in multipacks scrape. It comes with one reversible carbide blade. The scrap-
online for $4 to $70. ers cost about $20 at oneida-air.com.
JOSH RISBERG, LEAD CARPENTER
FAST SETUP!
LADDER STABILIZER
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ST U F F WE LOVE
COMPACT BUT MIGHTY
Space-saving
miter saw
Y
ou might say I’m fickle when
it comes to compound
miter saws. I’ve tried 10- and
12-in. models—both sliding and non-
sliding—made by DeWalt, Craftsman,
Hitachi and Festool. And while they
all had their strengths, I’m currently
in love with my 12-in. Bosch Axial-
Glide miter saw (model GCM12SD;
boschtools.com).
The Axial-Glide saw is big and
powerful with no slide arms behind
the saw, which means I can push it
tight against a wall, making it per-
fect for my space-challenged work-
shop. The bevel and miter controls
are on the front of the saw and
super easy to use. The 12-in. model
retails for about $600, and there’s a
similar 10-in. model available for
about $550.
JEFF GORTON, ASSOCIATE EDITOR
IT WORKED!
PEST-PROOF FOAM
I
nsulating foam is great for sealing out
drafts, but not so great for keeping out
mice and other pests that can chew EXTRA HANDY
their way through in a heartbeat. I had a
problem with mice chewing through the
weather stripping near the bottom of my
Cheap
JDUDJHGRRUĪVHHSKRWRī,VSUD\HGDJORE moving blankets
I
of DAP Products’ Touch ’n Foam Mouse had to move cross-country a couple years back and needed a
Shield behind each entry point last fall. It bunch of furniture blankets to protect my stuff. The problem
was amazing! Not one foam barrier was was the quilted ones cost about $15 or more at moving supply
EUHDFKHG<RXFDQJHWLWIRUDERXWĲDQG companies. So I bought a few at Harbor Freight Tools (harbor-
up online. freight.com), where they cost only $5 to $10 each (depending on
*UHDW6WXII3HVWEORFNDQRWKHUSHVWĥ size). Since the move, I’ve found other uses for them such as pad-
deterring foam sealant, contains an ingreĥ ding the top of my workbench to protect furniture from dings
dient that tastes bad to critters. It’s while I sand. They work great as drop cloths too.
DYDLODEOHDWKRPHFHQWHUVIRUDERXWĲ JASON WHITE
TRAVIS LARSON, SENIOR EDITOR
SHARE
Handy Hints Clever solutions from our readers.
®
YOUR T
H A N DY HIN
WITH US!
ns@
submissio an.com
h an d ym
family
Coffee Bag
Tie
COFFEE BAG TIES

Small bags of fancy coffee have
heavy-duty ties to keep them airtight.
The ties are handy for securing small
coils of electrical cable and rope.
They’re usually fastened to the bag
with just a dab of glue, making them
pretty easy to pull off.
JOE GEMMILL
WINE CORK
CAULK SAVER
Synthetic wine corks are
great for sealing partially
EDITOR: JASON WHITE
used tubes of caulk. Drill a

5/16-in. hole into the cork
about 1 in. deep. The cork
Synthetic Cork fits perfectly and makes an
airtight seal.
SUSAN CLAUSSEN

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HAN DY HIN TS®
SIX-PACK
SHOP ORGANIZER Don’t drink it!
Six-pack cartons are useful for stor-
ing and transporting items like
spray paint, lubricants and caulk.
GERALD FITZGIBBON
Flowerpot
Saucer
DRAFT
DODGER
My house has round ceiling regis-
ters for the air-conditioning system.
In the winter, we’d get cold air fall-
ing from the registers. Rather than
put up with the drafts, I sealed the Picture
Frame
registers with those clear plastic Bumpers
saucers that you put under flower-
pots. I temporarily glued them in
place with White Lightning
SEASONSeal Clear Removable
Weather Stripping ($5). It’s a rub-
bery sealant that you apply with a
caulk gun and peel off in the spring.
JAMES HERRENKNECHT
Ceiling
Register
A STICKY SOLUTION
To keep my square from sliding on slick material when I’m trying to mark with it,
I stick vinyl picture-frame bumpers on the back. This holds the square in place
while I draw a pencil line.
KELLY HICKS

LIFE DEMANDS
FLEXIBILITY
BLISTER BUSTER
I rake leaves like I’m sweeping
the floor with a broom. I always
used to get a blister between the
index finger and thumb of my
lower hand. Now I just keep my
thumb and fingers on the same
side of the pole. You get just as
much gripping power—without
the blisters!
KIPP BECK

Best ProTips
Expert advice from the job site. By Mark Petersen
POUR A PERFECT SLAB

beautiful gateway to your home that
can last for decades if it’s installed
correctly. But if you don’t follow the
proper procedures, it could turn into
a pile of rubble in half the time. The good news:
Installing it the right way doesn’t take extra time
or money. We tagged along with a longtime pro-
fessional mason, who showed us the best ways
to prevent water from pooling and stop
unsightly cracking, spalling and scaling. We’ll
feature the actual pour in this story.
For great tips on prepping the
ground before the pour, visit
constructionprotips.com.
MEET THE EXPERT

Glenn Anderson is the
owner/operator of
Above Quality in Prior
Lake, MN. He’s been
finishing slabs, laying
block and stacking
stone for 25 years.

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B E ST P RO TIPS
Truck
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Chair
Hand signals
Here are some basic hand signals to help you com-
municate with the truck driver. Make sure you can
see the driver’s face in the side-view mirror—if you
can’t see him, he can’t see you.
Back up Stop Start Stop

the truck the truck pouring pouring
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Mr. Mucker Nice Guy!
(Drivers B E ST PR O T IPS
Usually
Don’t
Help)
Screed
Board Crown side up on
the screed board
A slight crown (bow) in the screed
Slide the screed board board is not only OK; it’s preferred. Just
make sure the crown side is facing up.
back and forth as you pull That will create a slight hump down the
Pull back the excess concrete with the screed board. As you pull, slide middle of the slab, so water will drain
the screed board back and forth to help you prevent voids in the sur- off. If the crown faces down, you’ll end
face. Have a mucker (that’s what they’re really called) pull the excess up creating a trough in the slab where
back and fill in low spots during the screeding process. water can pool.
Push the rocks down

Larger aggregate (chunks of gravel) near
the surface may cause spalling (chip-
ping). Our expert pushes the larger rocks
deeper into the mix. He does this by
making small stabbing motions with the
float on the first return pass. Start floating
the slab immediately after the pour is
complete.
6WDUWŴRDWLQJ
right away
In addition to pushing the
aggregate down under the
surface, a bull float helps level
the slab, so start floating right
after you screed, while the
concrete is still wet enough
to shape.
Whenever possible, run the Bull
Float
bull float perpendicular to the
direction you pulled the con-
crete with the screed board
(this slab was too long to do
that). That will help to smooth
out the ridges, troughs and
valleys created by screeding.
More tips For more great information, search for “pouring concrete”
Our expert likes to float in at familyhandyman.com
both directions when he can. online
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B E ST PR O T IPS
Fresno
Trowel
Don’t over-trowel concrete

Actually, exterior concrete surfaces don’t need to be troweled at all.
But if you want to use a trowel to knock down the ridges left by the
bull float, make as few passes as possible and wait until all the sur-
face “bleed water” is gone. Overworking and troweling wet con-
crete can trap water just under the surface, making it weak and
more prone to spalling and scaling (pitting and peeling), especially
on slabs poured in cold climates.
Make long
strokes with
the edger
The concrete should
be firm before you
start edging. If the
edger is leaving
behind large wet
grooves, wait awhile
Clean your tools before you continue.
Longer strokes will
as you go result in straighter
Don’t wait till the end of the day to clean your lines.
tools. Clean them immediately after use.
Keep a hand Hand

Be prepared! ŴRDWQHDUE\ Float
Concrete doesn’t care if you’re not
organized or don’t have time to when edging
finish all the edging—it will start set- Run a hand float over the
ting up right away regardless. Make ridges left behind by the
sure all your tools are ready to go edger. A hand float is
and there are at least three people also a good tool for
on hand, one to muck and two to dragging small amounts
screed. Sometimes the truck driver of material or moisture
will help, but don’t count on it. (cream) into any voids or
Edger
dry spots near the edge.

B E ST P RO TIPS
How to order
Calculate the volume you
need in cubic yards.
Multiply the length by the
width by the depth, and
divide that number by 27
(the number of cubic feet
in a cubic yard). Then add
10 percent to allow for
Groover spillage and slab depth
variations. If you’re not
sure which slump (consis-
Cut in control joints tency) or psi (strength) to
order, ask your concrete
A 100-ft. run of concrete can shrink as much supplier to suggest the
as 1/2 in. as it hardens. Shrinking causes proper mix for your slab’s
cracks. You can’t stop your slab from crack- intended use.
ing, but you can control where it cracks. Cut
in control joints to create individual sections
no larger than 8 x 8 ft. for a 3-1/2-in.-thick
slab, and no larger than 10 x 10 ft. for a
5-1/2-in.-thick slab. Cut the control joints at
least one-fourth the depth of the concrete.
You could use a groover like this one, which
works similar to an edger, but many pros
prefer to cut the control joints with a dia-
mond blade saw the day after pouring.
Create traction with a broom
A broom finish creates a nonslip surface for wet conditions. The
harder the concrete, the less rough the broom will leave the sur-
face. Try to achieve a surface rough enough for traction but not
so rough that it hurts to walk on barefoot. If the broom starts to
bounce as you pull, lower the angle of the handle. If possible,
broom perpendicular to the direction that the slab is most visi-
ble. Wavy, crooked broom lines are less noticeable that way.
Spray on a sealer
Concrete will become significantly weaker if
the water in the mix evaporates before the
chemical curing process is complete. Spray
down the slab with water every day for at
least a week to slow down the curing pro- Finishing up
cess. Another option is to spray on an acrylic The slab can be walked on and the forms pulled in 24 hours.
cure and seal product. Sealing the surface Wait at least 10 days to drive on it, and avoid spreading any ice
also protects the concrete from scaling and melting chemicals for the first two years. Ask your neighbors to
spalling in cold climates. Apply the sealer keep an eye on their pets before you pour, and use caution tape
right after you broom. around the area to warn the pesky neighbor kids.

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DIY Essentials
Our best tips for getting your project done right. By Jeff Gorton
SUCCESS
WITH
MELAMINE
“Melamine” is the common
name for particleboard that’s
coated with a thin layer of
plastic finish. The melamine
finish is similar to the plastic
laminate on countertops,
but it’s not as thick.
The advantages of building
with a melamine-coated prod-
uct are its durable finish and
its relatively low cost. But it
can be frustrating to work
with. The particleboard can be
hard to fasten, and the brittle
finish is tricky to cut. Here are
11 tips to make your next
melamine project a success.
bBUY A SPECIAL BLADE

The melamine finish chips easily when cut, especially if
you’re using an everyday saw blade. But you can largely avoid chip-
ping by investing in a special blade that’s designed to cut plastic
materials. The teeth on these blades are less angled, which helps
prevent chipping. One example is the Freud LU79R007 7-1/4-in.
blade ($55). If you can’t justify spending this much, you can still get
good results with a less expensive blade that has at least 40 carbide
teeth. But be sure to use the chip-free cutting technique that we
show in Tip 4.
D I Y ESSENTIA LS
Melamine basics
L
ook around and you’ll
find melamine furniture,
melamine shelves,
melamine wall panels, and even
melamine slatwall. It’s usually
labeled as melamine, but you
may also see terms such as ther-
mally fused laminate or simply
bORDER THE COLOR YOU WANT
You’ll typically find melamine products in white at home centers,
but many colors are available. Depending on the brand, you’ll find 10
prefinished panels or prefin-
ished shelves.
You can buy 4 x 8-ft. sheets of
to 20 or more colors available for special order. Check with your local
melamine in 1/8-, 1/4-, 1/2-,
lumberyard or home center for your options.
5/8- and 3/4-in. thicknesses and
melamine shelves in various
lengths and widths. Home cen-
ters may only stock 1/4-in. and
3/4-in. thicknesses. Melamine
sheets cost about 60¢ to $1.25
per square foot. Shelving costs
about $1.40 to $2 per linear
foot depending on the width.
bWEAR
SAFETY GEAR
You should always wear
safety gear when you’re
using power tools. There are
particular safety concerns
when you’re working with
melamine. For starters, the
plastic finish tends to chip off
as it’s cut. The chips are as
sharp as glass, creating a real
hazard for your eyes. Safety
glasses are a must.
The fine dust created by
cutting the fiber core is bad
for your lungs. If possible, cut
outdoors. Indoors or out,
wear a dust mask. Wear
gloves when you’re handling
large sheets of melamine.
The edges can be razor
sharp. And don’t forget hear-
ing protection.

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D I Y ESSENTIA LS
Shallow
Saw Kerf
bCUT WITHOUT CHIPPING

Making a scoring cut before the final one will result in a chip-free
edge. First, use a straightedge as a saw guide. Without the straightedge,
the saw might wobble slightly as you cut, and this twisting will contribute
to chipping. Clamp your straightedge guide in position and set the saw to
cut 1/8 in. deep. Run your saw along the straightedge and cut a groove in
the melamine panel. This shallow cut shouldn’t produce any chipping.
Now reset the saw so the blade extends about 1/2 in. past the bottom
side of the panel and make another pass. The resulting cut will be per-
fectly chip-free on both sides. You can use the same technique on a table
saw. Make one shallow cut. Then run the panel through the saw a second
time to complete the cut. If only one side of the panel will be visible in the
finished project, you don’t need to use this technique because chipping
occurs only on the side where the saw blade teeth exit. Just make sure to
place the “show” side down if you’re cutting with a circular saw and up
when you’re using a table saw.
b DRILL AND
COUNTERSINK
FOR SCREWS
Particleboard, whether it has a
melamine finish or not, doesn’t
hold screws as well as solid lumber
or plywood. Plus, it tends to split if
you drive screws without drilling
first. The key to fastening it with
screws is to drill pilot holes for the
screws and countersinks for the
screw heads. A combination bit
that drills and countersinks in one
operation saves time. Choose a
countersink bit that’s labeled for
use with No. 8 screws.
Countersink
Bit
bPIN PANELS, THEN ADD SCREWS

The melamine finish is slippery, making it difficult to hold the
panels in alignment while you drill pilot holes for the screws. Solve this
problem by first pinning the panels together using an 18-gauge brad nail
gun. The small holes left by the brads are nearly invisible, and you’ll save
yourself a lot of time and frustration.

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D I Y ESSENTIA LS
Screw Driven
Too Close
to End
Wood Solid
Biscuit Wood
Nosing
bPREVENT
SPLITTING
The particleboard core is rather
brittle and can split if you drive
bSTRENGTHEN
WITH NOSING
SHELVES
Melamine shelves will sag over time, especially if they’re more than a few
screws too close to the edge.
Prevent this by positioning screws
at least 2 in. from the edge of
feet long. Strengthen shelves by gluing a solid wood nose to one or both panels when possible. Drilling a
edges of the shelf. Here we’ve slotted the nosing and the melamine pilot hole also helps prevent split-
shelves with a biscuit joiner to allow the use of wood biscuits. The biscuits ting (Tip 6).
add strength and help align the edging perfectly. No nails needed; just
apply wood glue, insert the biscuits and clamp the edge to the shelf until
the glue sets.
bREPAIR CHIPS WITH

A SPECIAL FILLER
SeamFil plastic filler paste comes in a tube
and is commonly used by pros who work
Chip
with plastic laminate to repair chips. And
since the surface of melamine panels and
shelves is also a type of plastic laminate, the
repairs blend in well.
SeamFil paste is available for about $5 per
1-oz. tube online or where plastic laminate
Polished (used for countertops) is sold. It’s available in
Putty Knife 20 standard colors that can be mixed to
create custom colors.
To use the SeamFil paste, first clean the
area with the special SeamFil solvent (avail-
able for about $9 per half pint where the
paste is sold). Then spread a small amount
of the paste on a scrap of wood or plastic
laminate. Work the paste around with a pol-
ished putty knife until some of the solvent
starts to evaporate and the paste starts to
thicken. Then press the thickened paste into
the area to be repaired and smooth it with
the putty knife. It may take a few coats to get
a flush surface. Clean off excess paste using
a rag dampened with the solvent.

DIY E SSE N T IA L S
10. HIDE
SCREW HEADS
To conceal screw heads, you have
a couple of options. You can buy
plastic caps that snap onto or over
your screw heads. These work fine
but leave a protruding cap.
The other option is to cover the FastCap
screw with FastCap self-sticking Screw
plastic screw covers ($3 to $5 for Cover
56 1/2-in. covers). These are avail-
able at some retailers, online or
directly from FastCap. Go to
fastcap.com to see the huge vari-
ety of sizes and colors. If you’re
really picky and want to install a
nearly invisible, flush screw cover,
you can buy a special FlushMount
drill bit system ($55 at fastcap.
com) that makes a perfect-depth
recess for the plastic screw covers.
11. FINISH RAW EDGES

WITH EDGE BANDING
When the edge of a melamine panel is visible but you
don’t want to add solid wood nosing, apply edge-
banding tape. You can buy iron-on edge banding at
most home centers. But an even easier solution is to
apply self-adhesive or peel-and-stick edge banding.
FastCap is one company that supplies peel-and-stick
edge banding in a wide variety of colors, widths and
lengths. Called Fastedge, it’s available online and at
woodworking stores.
1. COVER EDGES WITH EDGE BANDING

Move a hot iron quickly over iron-on edge-banding tape
to melt the glue. If you’re using self-adhesive edge band-
ing, you can skip this step and simply peel off the paper
backing and stick the edge banding to the particleboard
edge.
BUY
SHELVING
WITH EDGES
FINISHED
You can skip edge
banding altogether if
you just need shelves.
2. TRIM THE TAPE TO FINISH THE EDGE Shelving with finished
Trim the overhanging edges of the tape flush to the edges is readily available at
melamine surface with a special tool called an edge-band- home centers and hardware
ing trimmer. You’ll find edge-banding trimmers at home stores. The only drawback is that
centers, woodworking stores and online for about $20. the color selection may be limited.

SUPER STORAGE —
BASIC TOOLS FAST BIG CAPACITY INEXPENSIVE

You only need Build it in a Turns the whole wall Make it from low-cost
two power tools weekend or less into storage space pegboard and lumber

— Simple and
inexpensive, with
huge storage capacity.
By Travis Larson
BUILD A FLIP-UP
WORKBENCH!
WHAT IT TAKES
FLEXIBLE COMPACT MODULAR TIME

1 to 3 days
COST
$80
SKILL LEVEL
Intermediate
Move shelves or Leaves plenty of Build one section per 4' x 8' bay
hooks instantly parking space or several TOOLS Circular saw, screw gun,
chalk line, 4-ft. level

3" Screws
RECONFIGURE AS
YOUR NEEDS CHANGE
The items on your wall may come and go as your hobbies and
storage requirements evolve. The beauty of this system is that you
can rearrange shelves, add or substitute pegboard accessories,
and even mount hanging systems that are designed for ordinary
walls, so your wall will always suit your needs.
2x10
End
FLIP-UP WORKBENCH Frame
Flip it up when you need it;
fold it down when you don’t.
93-1/8" 2x2s
Centered
in Openin
PEGBOARD ACCESSORIES
Dozens of brackets are available
to hang just about anything.
DEDICATED STORAGE
Install 2x4 backers to hold
storage brackets and hooks. It’s mostly
framing lumber
and pegboard
Check out Figure A to get the gist
of the construction. After you
establish the 2x2 grid work (see
Figure B), you frame the perime-
ter with 2x10s. Then you cut the
pegboard to fit and screw or glue
it to the grid work. If you choose
ADJUSTABLE SHELVES
glue, you’ll have to tack it in place
Reposition shelves until the glue sets. Then add the
as your needs change. 2x8 partitions directly over the

Figure A Garage Storage System
2x8 Dividers Overall dimensions:
Cut to Fit 20' 3-1/4" long x 9-1/4" deep x 8' 3-1/8" tall
Permanent
2x4 Backer Permanent
Adjustable 2x4 Shelf
Shelves
8' 3-1/8"
4' x 8'
Pegboard
Panel
ng
6' Adjustable
Shelf Standards Flip-Up
Workbench
(see Figure B)
12"
pegboard coated on one side with

2x10 Horizontal
Frame (20' 1/4" white melamine (Photo 5). Either
Long) one will work fine for this project.
Get the plain stuff if you want to
Size it for paint it a color or white if you’re fine
your garage and with that. If you do have choices,
pegboard seams. Use a 4-ft. level

storage needs pick the thickest available with the
larger (1/4-in.) holes.
to make sure those are plumb so Think of this project in terms of
While you’re at the store, check
your shelves will fit in any location 4 x 8-ft. bays. They can be vertical
out the pegboard accessories.
within each bay. like ours or horizontal if that
You’ll find all kinds of baskets,
Screw all the framing in place by better fits your needs. Do one bay
brackets, hooks, screwdriver hold-
end-screwing or toe-screwing as or as many as you want; the con-
ers, etc., designed to hang just
needed with 3-in. screws. We struction is the same.
about anything you can think of.
show this project on a finished Wait until the project is done and
wall. But there’s no reason you
can’t install it over exposed studs
Now, about think it through before buying any
at this point.
or even a concrete or block wall. If the pegboard Pegboard is dusty and messy to
you’re installing it over masonry, If you’re willing to shop around, you cut. Do it outside if you can or your
anchor the 2x2s with 3-in. con- can find a lot of pegboard choices: entire garage and everything in it
crete screw anchors (Tapcon is thick, thin, metal, custom colors, etc. will be covered with dust. Wear a
one brand). If the concrete is fre- But if you shop at home centers or dust mask. Make your cuts with the
quently damp, use treated 2x2s lumberyards, you generally only good side down to eliminate tear-
and they’ll last forever. find 3/16-in.-thick plain brown and out on the show side.
End
Wall
2x2
Equal Distance From Ceiling 2x10

End
Frame
3"
Bottom 1-1/2"
Chalk
Line 12" Blocking
Behind Drywall
bBEGIN FRAMING
AT THE END WALL
&XWWKHWZR[VWRĥLQORQJĪRQH
IRUHDFKHQGī&HQWHURQHDERYHDQG
bESTABLISH THE BOTTOM FIRST

Measure up from the floor 12 in., then measure down to get the distance from
the ceiling. Transfer that measurement to the other end of the wall and snap the
below the top and bottom chalk lines
and screw it to the corner blocking.
There should be blocking extending at
bottom line for the base of the pegboard wall. Measure up from the bottom chalk line OHDVWLQDZD\IURPWKHFRUQHU&HQWHU
ĥLQDQGVQDSWKHWRSFKDONOLQH7KHQVQDSKRUL]RQWDOOLQHVVSDFHGHYHU\IW DQĥIW[EHWZHHQWKH[HQGVDQG
IURPWKHWRS8VHDOHYHOWRPDUNWKHVWXGFHQWHUVDQGWKHRWKHUHQGRIWKHZDOO VFUHZLWLQWRSODFHZLWKĥLQVFUHZV
Mounting
Grid
Stud
Center
Stud
Locations
bBUILD THE GRID WORK

&XWWKHKRUL]RQWDO[VVRWKH\¶OOEUHDNLQWKHPLGGOHRIVWXGV6FUHZWKHPWRHDFKVWXGZLWKĥLQVFUHZVXVLQJWKH
FKDONOLQHVDVDJXLGH&XWWKHODVW[VĥLQVKRUWRIWKHHQGFKDONOLQHEHIRUHIDVWHQLQJWKHPWRWKHVWXGV7KHQVFUHZWKH
ODVWYHUWLFDO[WRWKHHQGVRIHDFKKRUL]RQWDO[

Write up
a shopping list
It’s impossible to give you a mate-
rials list for this project because
your wall will be different from
2x10
ours. But you won’t have any trou- Horizontal
ble making your own. (See Frame
“Shopping Tips,” below.) After you
establish how many bays you
want, look at Figure A and count
the parts. That’ll give you a pretty
accurate custom materials list for
the project.
Choose the lengths of your
2x10s in multiples of 4 ft. That
way, they’ll join directly over the
pegboard splices, and the hori-
zontal 2x10 splices will be sup-
ported by the vertical 2x8s
(Photo 4). That’s why we used
both 8- and 12-ft. 2x10s for the
horizontal pieces. Joined
bBUILD THE 2x10 FRAME
Center and screw the last vertical 2x10 to the end 2x2. Cut the horizontal
[VVRDQ\VSOLFHVZLOOIDOORYHUWKH[GLYLGHUVĪ*HWDKHOSHUWRVXSSRUWWKH
together, they add up to our 20-ft. ERDUGVIRUWKLVSDUWī7KHQEHJLQDWWDFKLQJWKHKRUL]RQWDO[VWRWKHHQG[V
pegboard wall. Get one 8-ft. 2x8 DQGWRWKHKRUL]RQWDO[VZLWKĥLQVFUHZV
for every two shelves you want
(Photo 7). Here’s a heads-up:
2x8s and 2x10s will be 1/8 to 1/2
in. over the stated lengths. So
you’ll have a little built-in fudge
factor, but you may have to do a
little trimming from time to time.
Place shelf standards in any bays
where you want adjustable shelves. 4' x 8'
Choose 6-ft. standards if they’re Pegboard
available, and space them 1 ft. up
from the bottom 2x10.
Shopping tips
Q Buy 10-ft.-long 2x10s for the
end frames. The final lengths
are a few inches longer than
8 ft.
Q Pick horizontal frames in 4-ft.
increments: 8 ft. for two bays,
12 ft. for three bays, etc.
Q Get one 4 x 8-ft. sheet of peg-
board for each bay.
Q Buy four 8-ft. 2x2s for each bay.
Q When it comes to hardware,
buy a 1-lb. box of 3-in. screws
and a 1-lb. box of 1-1/2-in.
washer-head screws. You’ll
have more than you need,
but they’ll come in handy
someday.
bINSTALL THE PEGBOARD
&XWWKHSHJERDUGWROHQJWKLIQHHGHGWKHQUHVWLWRQWKHERWWRP[DQG
VFUHZLWWRWKH[VZLWKĥĥLQZDVKHUĥKHDGVFUHZVIRXUSHU[Ī<RX¶OOVHHWKH
[VWKURXJKWKHSHJERDUGKROHVī,IQHHGHGFXWWKHODVWSHJERDUGSDQHOWRZLGWK
3" Screw
Measure from the floor to make a
mark at 12 in. (Photo 1). Then
measure down from the ceiling to
the mark and transfer it to the
other end of the pegboard wall.
(Garage floors are rarely level, but
2x8 you can usually trust the ceiling.)
Divider Snap the bottom line. Measure up
from the bottom line 93-1/8 in. to
snap the top line. The 2x2s will go
below the bottom line and above
the top line to give you 96-1/8 in.
outside to outside when they’re
in place.
If your pegboard will butt
against a wall, install the 2x10 end
frame first and measure from that
bADD THE DIVIDERS

Cut the 2x8 dividers to length, then center them over the pegboard seams.
3OXPEWKHPZLWKDĥIWOHYHODQGVFUHZWKHPWRWKHWRSDQGERWWRP[V7KHQ
to establish the 20-ft. 1/4-in. verti-
cal grid line at the other end. (Or
make the line to suit the number
WRHĥVFUHZWKHPWRWKHKRUL]RQWDO[V of bays you wish to have: 4 ft. 1/4
in., 8 ft. 1/4 in., etc.) Then snap
horizontal lines spaced about
Shelf every 2 ft. for the 2x2s that sup-
Standard
port the pegboard. Lastly, use a
4-ft. level to mark the end of the
wall and the center of each stud
2x8 Shelf
(Photo 2).
Dealing with
openings
Our expanse of plywood didn’t
include any windows, doors or
electrical outlets or switches, but
yours might. Surround windows
with 2x10s just like you did with
the perimeter. But beware of
doors. Putting a 2x10 on the hinge
bSCREW IN THE SHELF STANDARDS

0RXQWWKHVWDQGDUGVRQWKHGLYLGHUV7KHQFXWWKH[VKHOYHVLQ
VKRUWHUWKDQWKHVSDFHEHWZHHQWKHVWDQGDUGVDQGUHVWWKHPRQVKHOIVWDQGDUG
side of a door means it’ll open
only 90 degrees. Experiment with
the door swing to figure out which
brackets.
placement will work for you. If you
have electrical boxes, you’re
Paint before pegboard—no painting needed. If
you want to custom-paint unfin-
required by code to install box
extenders so the outlet or switch
assembly ished pegboard, rough up the sur- will be flush with the pegboard
You’ll spend as much time paint- face with 100-grit sandpaper, then surface.
ing as you do building this system. prime and paint it the same way.
We primed all the lumber with But use a 1/4-in.-nap roller to
Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3, not only to ensure thin coats. If you use a thick-
Sturdy, adjustable
provide a good base for the paint, nap roller, the peg holes will likely shelving
but also to keep knots from even- become plugged with paint. It took You can buy dedicated pegboard
tually bleeding through the color nearly a full gallon of paint to roll shelving brackets, but we wanted
coat. Then we rolled on two coats two coats over all the framing sturdy, adjustable 2x8 shelves, so we
of latex wall paint, eggshell sheen. members. mounted 6-ft. shelf standards on
A 3-in. roller frame with a most of the 2x8s (Photo 7). The 2x8s
1/2-in.-nap sleeve works very well
for all the painting. You can skip
Lay out the 2x2 can span the full bay width without
sagging. Unless you spend the time
the paint tray and dip the sleeve mounting grid making all the bays exactly the same
right into the gallon paint can. Study Figure A to help you digest width, the shelf length will vary from
We used prefinished white the following layout directions. one bay to the next.
2x2 Workbench
Frame
1/2" Particleboard
1x3 Edge
Banding
3" Screw
bASSEMBLE THE
WORKBENCH FRAME
Build a 2x2 framework 24 in. deep and 2 in. narrower than
bSHEATHE THE TOP
AND BOTTOM
&RYHUERWKVLGHVZLWKĥLQSDUWLFOHERDUG8VHLWWRVTXDUH
the bay opening you intend to install it in. the ladder as you glue and nail it to the 2x2s. Then add 1x3
HGJHEDQGLQJWRWKHEHQFKHGJHV
Folding
Shelf
Bracket
27" 2x4
Hinge
Support
10. ADD THE FOLDING

SHELF BRACKETS
&XWĥLQĥORQJ[KLQJHVXSSRUWVDQGVFUHZWKHPWKURXJK
11. ATTACH THE TOP
FROM UNDERNEATH
5HVWWKHEHQFKRQWKHWRSFHQWHUHGEHWZHHQWKH[XSULJKWV
WKHSHJERDUGLQWRWKH[VZLWKĥLQVFUHZV7KHQDWWDFKWKH DQGLQDZD\IURPWKHSHJERDUGWKHQVFUHZLWWRWKH
IROGLQJVKHOIEUDFNHWVZLWKĥĥLQZDVKHUĥKHDGVFUHZV EUDFNHWVIURPXQGHUQHDWKZLWKĥĥLQZDVKHUĥKHDGVFUHZV
Built-in, flip-up
1/2" Particleboard
workbench (Cut to Fit)
Our bench is 40 in. high and can be
folded down into its own bay when you’re
not using it. The height is based on the
pegboard wall base being located 1 ft.
above the floor and the how-to steps
shown in Photos 8 – 11. If you
2x2
want a different height, you’ll have (Bay Width,
to do some design work. But Minus 2")
make sure to allow for a 1-1/2-in. 21"
2x2
gap between the bottom of the
bench and the 2x10 when it’s folded
down. You’ll need that gap for your fin-
gers to safely open and close the bench. 1x3 Trim
(Cut to Fit)
You won’t find these special folding
shelf brackets in stores. Search online for
“KV 16" Folding Shelf Bracket” and you’ll
find plenty of sources—and varying prices
Figure B
too! We paid about $65 with shipping for Flip-up workbench
both. Make sure you get two. It’s easy to To build a bench to match this one, you’ll need a 4 x 4-ft. sheet of
misorder and only get one. It happened 1/2-in. particleboard, two 8-ft. 2x2s and two 8-ft. 1x3s for trim for
to us, folks! the edges.

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subject to change. Plans and services may require purchase of a Jitterbug Flip and a one-time setup fee of $35. Coverage is not available everywhere. 5Star or 9-1-1 calls can only be made when cellular service
is available. 5Star Service will be able to track an approximate location when your device is turned on, but we cannot guarantee an exact location. 2We will refund the full price of the Jitterbug phone and the
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3-HOUR
STONE-TOP PROJEC T
Tile makes an instant tabletop
that’s easy, inexpensive and
durable. By Eric Smith
WHAT IT TAKES
TIME COST SKILL LEVEL
3 hours $50 Beginner
TOOLS Basic hand tools, drill,
miter saw, caulk gun

T
ile stores carry a
wide selection of
Figure A
beautiful stone Stone-Top Table
tile. And that’s
the inspiration
for this table. We chose a
VODWHWLOHĪĲīEXW\RX¶OODOVR
ILQGJUDQLWHOLPHVWRQHDQG
PDUEOHWLOHVFRVWLQJDQ\ĥ 16" x 16"
ZKHUHIURPĲWRĲHDFK Stone Tile
<RXFRXOGDOVRXVHPDQXIDFĥ
WXUHGWLOHWKRXJKWKHHGJHV
PD\QRWPDWFKWKHIDFHRI
the tile.
Top Support: 1-5/8"
3/4" x 1-1/2" Screw
x 13-3/4"
Leg:
1-1/2" x
1-1/2" x
16-3/4"
Slat:
3/4" x
1-1/2" x
10-3/4"
5/8"
Choose any
16" x 16" tile
you like! 1/2"
1-1/2" Galv.
Finish Nails Shelf Support:
3/4" x 1-1/2"
x 13-3/4"
MATERIALS LIST
WOOD HARDWARE
6' of 2x2 oak 1 lb. 1-1/2" galvanized finish nails
14' of 1x2 oak Eight 1-5/8" galvanized screws
Exterior wood glue
Construction adhesive
120-grit sandpaper

Leg
13-3/4"
1x4
Shelf
Support
Square
Stop
Block
Assembly
Jig 4-3/4"
1. CUT THE PARTS

To cut identical parts without measuring each one,
screw a stop block to a 1x4 base. Position the base and clamp
bSCREW AND GLUE THE SHELF
SUPPORTS TO THE LEGS
The shelf supports and legs must meet at 90 degrees. You
LWLQSODFH0LWHUWKHWRSVXSSRUWVDWĥGHJUHHV7KDW can position them with a square, but if you’re building more
way, they’ll join tightly at the visible outside corners. Sand than one table, you can speed up the job by making an
the parts before assembly. assembly jig. This jig is made from 1x4s screwed to plywood.
Top Support
Shelf
Slat
Leg
Top
Support
Shelf Construction
Support Spacer Adhesive
bADD THE TOP

SUPPORTS bINSTALL THE SLATS 5. GLUE
Screw the top supports to the legs.
ON
THE TOP Drill pilot holes, then fasten the
VODWVXVLQJJOXHDQGQDLOVRUWULPĥKHDG Center the table on the underside of
Be sure to countersink the screw VFUHZV3RVLWLRQWKHVODWVXVLQJĥLQ the tile and trace its location. Then
heads so the tile top will rest spacers. apply construction adhesive and set
directly on the supports. the top in place. Set weight on the
slats if needed. We finished our table
with two coats of spar urethane.
More Outdoor Search for “patio furniture”
at familyhandyman.com
Furniture Plans!

2-HOUR
PROJEC T DRILL

Cordless drills and drivers
are our most-used tools. We
couldn’t work without them.
But with their chargers and
spare batteries, they’re also a
prime source of workbench
clutter. What they need is dedi-
cated space that allows for easy
organization and instant
access—like this drill dock.
By David Munkittrick
bMEASURE WITH A CLAMP

To determine the width of the pipe slot, use a
clamp to measure the width of the tool handle.
WHAT IT TAKES
TIME COST SKILL LEVEL
2 hours
TOOLS
$50 Beginner
Clamp, jigsaw, circular
bMARK THE SLOT
Transfer the handle width to the pipe and mark
out the slot. Make the slot about 1/8 in. wider than the
saw, basic hand tools tool handle. The length of the slot isn’t critical; 5 in. is
about right for most drills.

Customize it!
If the drill dock shown here suits
your needs perfectly, just build it as
detailed in Figure A. If not, you can
easily alter it. Here are some
suggestions:
Q Three-inch PVC pipe is best for
the holsters and accommodates
most tools. A 10-ft. pipe costs less
than $20. Many home centers also
sell shorter lengths.
bCUT THE SLOT

A fine-tooth jigsaw blade, such as a metal-cutting blade, is
best. After cutting, ease the sharp edges with a file or sandpaper.
Q We made our holsters 12 in.
long. Shorter is fine, but don’t go
so short that you’ll have to remove
bits in order to stow the tools. Cut
the pipe with a miter saw or a
handsaw.
Q Leave enough space between
Holster
holsters so you can comfortably
grab the tool. We centered our
holsters 6-1/2 in. apart.
Q Adjusting the width of the dock
to suit your tools is easy; just
change the length of the shelves
and the back. But don’t skimp.
Leave space for future tools.
Q Get a power strip ($10) and park
it on the bottom shelf so you can
plug in all your chargers. Drill a
hole in the side of the dock to
accommodate the power strip cord.
bMOUNT THE HOLSTERS

Drill holes in the pipes and fasten each with at least two screws.
You can mount the holsters on an existing shelf or build the drill dock as
Q Toolsand batteries are heavy, so
build the dock from 3/4-in. ply-
wood. Ours required a 4 x 4-ft.
shown below. sheet ($20).
Top Shelf: 6" x 37-1/2"
2" Screw
6"
Back: 7-1/4" x 36"

8"
2-1/2"
Bottom Shelf: 14" x 36"
ILLUSTRATION: DAVID MUNKITTRICK
14"
Back, sides
and shelves
are 3/4"
Slot 12" plywood.
Figure A
Drill Dock 3/4"
Overall dimensions: 37-1/2" wide x 14" deep x 12-1/4" tall Screw 3"-Dia. PVC Pipe

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12" SLIDING COMPOUND 21 GALLON, 2.5 HP, 125 PSI
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• Makes precision cross, MITER SAW VERTICAL OIL-LUBE 6 PIECE
bevel and miter cuts Customer Rating AIR COMPRESSOR SCREWDRIVER
OFF
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ITEM 46807/68975 12" RATCHET ALUMINUM OXIDE
1/4" TRIM ROUTER 62123/63017 15 AMP, 12-1/2" PORTABLE SANDING SPONGES - PACK OF 10
69222 shown BAR CLAMP/SPREADER
ITEM 61626/62659/44914 shown THICKNESS PLANER FINE
ITEM 63445 ITEM 46753
SAVE Customer Rating Customer Rating 63912
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4" x 36" BELT/ EAR MUFFS 12" x 33-3/8" WOOD LATHE
10", 12 SPEED 6" DISC SANDER
BENCHTOP
DRILL PRESS Customer Rating SAVE WITH REVERSIBLE HEAD
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WOOD 101
Wood movement causes heartbreak when projects
crack and warp. Learn how to master these simple techniques
and save yourself some nightmares. By Jeff Gorton
LET IT MOVE!
If your plans don’t
accommodate wood
movement, you’ll
end up with trouble,
like this cracked
tabletop.
W
hen humidity is high,
wood absorbs mois-
ture and swells.
When humidity
drops, wood shrinks.
This “movement” is gradual, so you
probably won’t notice weekly
changes. But seasonal changes cause
problems you can’t miss, like sticking
doors, ugly gaps in woodwork or a
crack in a tabletop.
This movement occurs whether
wood is fresh from the mill or centuries
old, whether it was kiln dried or air
dried. And it exerts tremendous force
that’s almost unstoppable. But with a
little knowledge, you can minimize the
consequences. This article will explain
the basics of wood movement and
show you real-world solutions.

WOOD MOVEMENT 101
THE ABCs (and D!) No

tM
uc
A.
WIDTH MOVEMENT h
M
ov
IS THE MAIN ISSUE em
en
Wood moves as its moisture content changes. tL
en
Wood doesn’t move much lengthwise, so you gt
hw
don’t have to worry a lot about boards getting shorter. ise
th
s Wid
But a board can move quite a bit across its width. A board ent Acros
M ovem
that’s 6 in. wide during a humid summer might shrink by 1/32 Most
in. in winter. That’s not much, but it’s enough to cause a crack
in a tabletop or gaps between floorboards.
B.
Dry Wood Shrinks
MOVEMENT IS CAUSED BY
MOISTURE CONTENT
When wet wood dries, it shrinks. The
amount of movement is determined by
the type of wood and the degree of
change in its moisture content. Applying
a sealer or paint can moderate wood
movement. But it’s nearly impossible to
seal wood so completely that its moisture Wet Wood Swells
content stays constant.
C.
WOOD CAN ALSO CHANGE SHAPE
Movement within a board isn’t uniform; one
section might move more than another. That
leads to warping, twisting and cupping. Most
of these changes happen in the initial
drying phase, but wood
can change rm
i fo
shape later, Un
n’t
too. en t Is
M ovem Plain
Sawn
Quarter
D.
VERTICAL GRAIN
IS MORE STABLE
How a board is cut from the log also affects how
much it moves. Quarter-sawing yields “vertical-grain”
boards, while plain-sawn boards have “flat grain.”
Sawn
Inspecting the grain pattern on the end of a board

will reveal whether the board has vertical grain or flat
grain. A flat-grain board will move about twice as
much as a vertical-grain board with the same change
in moisture content. But because cutting quarter-
sawn lumber is much less efficient, vertical-grain
boards are expensive and can be hard to find.
Vertical Grain Flat Grain

Butt Joint
Butt Joint
1 2
3 4
Tabletop
Fastener
Expansion Slot
Space
Tabletop
5 6

MASTER CLASS
10 TECHNIQUES: HOW TO
TAME WOOD MOVEMENT
You can’t keep wood from moving, but these
tips and strategies can help you avoid problems.
1.
AVOID MITERS OUTDOORS LET TABLETOPS FLOAT
Miter joints hide end grain and look more
refined. But the effect is ruined when the
miters don’t meet tightly. Huge changes in
humidity, and wetting and drying from rain
and sun, cause wood to move more outdoors
One of the most common errors that
beginning woodworkers make is to
securely fasten wood tabletops to the
underlying frame. Tabletops tend to be
wide, and wood moves a lot across its
4.
than it would indoors. So whereas a miter width. Restricting the movement with
joint will look good for decades indoors, it screws or nails can cause the top to crack
may start to look really bad after only one as it shrinks. To avoid this, use special
season outdoors. That’s why it’s usually tabletop fasteners or some other method
better to avoid miters outdoors whenever that holds the top down but still allows the
possible. Use a butt joint instead. top to expand and contract.
2. 5.
PLAN FOR DECK BOARD LET WOOD ACCLIMATE
MOVEMENT Since the relative humidity of your
Deck boards can shrink or expand after indoor space may be quite different
they’re installed, depending on how much from the humidity where your trim or
moisture they contained when you fastened flooring was stored, you should always
them down. To allow for this, space wet allow time for the material to acclimate. The
treated boards with a 16d nail (1/8 in.) and wider and thicker the trim or flooring boards
dry boards such as cedar decking with a car- are, the longer you should leave them in the
penter’s pencil (5/16 in.). space before installation. Thin, narrow trim
may only take a day or two to reach equilib-
rium with the room’s relative humidity. Wide
or thick boards should be left in the room for
ALLOW EXPANSION SPACE
3.
at least four days before you install them. Of
FOR WOOD FLOORS course the trim or flooring will still move a
little after it’s installed, but at least most of
If you’re installing an engineered wood
the change will have occurred beforehand.
floor, follow the instructions carefully—they
include all the information you need about
spacing. In general, floating wood floors
6.
that aren’t nailed or glued down require AVOID WIDE BOARDS
about a 1/2-in. space around the perimeter Of course there are times when you have
and enough clearance at thresholds, door- to use a wide board or you want to use one
jambs and other obstructions to allow because it looks better. But always be aware
movement. Solid wood floors also require at that movement in wide boards, whether it’s
least a 1/2-in.-wide expansion space around cupping, twisting or something else, will be
the perimeter. more pronounced than in two or more nar-
rower boards. Gluing several narrow boards
together will result in a more stable tabletop
than gluing two wide boards together.
Peeling Outdoors, moisture in wood leads to paint problems. Search for “fix peeling paint”
Paint at familyhandyman.com

MASTER CLASS 10 TECHNIQUES: HOW TO TAME WOO
7 8
7. 8.
MANUFACTURED WOOD PREFINISH
HOLDS PAINT BETTER TONGUE-AND-
If you’re planning to paint an exterior project, GROOVE
consider building it from a manufactured product As tongue-and-groove boards
rather than solid wood. Wood movement expand and contract, the spaces
requires the paint to flex constantly, and eventu- between them change a little. If
ally the paint cracks and peels. Manufactured you don’t prefinish the boards,
wood substitutes from companies like Louisiana- you’ll see exposed raw wood on
Pacific, AZEK or James Hardie are more stable the tongue when the boards
than solid wood. And because these products shrink. But finishing the boards
move less, they provide a better surface for paint. before you install them will solve
this problem. Just be careful to
avoid a buildup of finish in the
Better Search for “composite decking” groove; it could make the boards
Decking at familyhandyman.com
hard to fit together.

D MOVEMENT
EXTRA CREDIT:
9 Substitute sheets
for boards
As you’re planning your next woodworking
project, don’t assume it has to be built
entirely from boards. Veneered sheets of
plywood and MDF are more stable and are a
good alternative to solid lumber. These
veneered sheets are less likely to bow or
cup, and won’t crack like lumber. Choices at
Filler home centers are usually limited to oak,
birch or maple veneers. If you’re looking for
something else, such as cherry or walnut,
check with a local hardwood lumber sup-
plier or a full-service lumberyard.
Sticking doors
Sticking and rubbing doors are a common
problem caused by wood movement. High
humidity is usually the culprit, so some prob-
lems can be avoided or solved by keeping
the humidity levels in your house low. But
when this isn’t practical, you’ll have to resort
to solutions like tightening door hinge
screws or planing or sanding the door edge.
Cabinet
Door Parts
Fix For more solutions, search
for “sticking doors” at
10 Sticking
Doors familyhandyman.com
9. 10.
DON’T FILL CRACKS LET PARTS WARP
ON WOOD FLOORS BEFORE ASSEMBLY
If you have wood floors, espe- When you go to all the trouble
cially old ones, you probably to build cabinet doors, you
have some cracks between the want to make sure they aren’t
boards. It’s tempting to try to going to warp or twist after
hide the cracks with wood filler, assembly. One way to prevent
but it’s not a good idea. As the this is to cut your parts then MEET THE EXPERT:
floorboards expand and contract, stack them with spacer boards Jeff Gorton is an
associate editor
the filler will crack and fall out, (stickers), and let them accli- at The Family
leaving you with an unsightly mate for about 24 hours before Handyman.
mess that’s hard to fix. building the doors. Be sure to
cut extra parts so you can
replace any boards that warp.

1-HOUR
PROJEC T BENCHTOP
ORGANIZER Combine plastic bins with a simple plywood cabinet
to super-organize small stuff. By David Munkittrick
A
stack of plastic
bins can organize
thousands of
small items. But
it’s not very con-
venient when the
bin you need is at
the bottom of the stack. That’s the
point of this cabinet: You can slide out
any bin—no stacking and unstacking.
You can easily build a cabinet
identical to this one. Or you can cus-
tomize it, using larger or smaller bins,
more bins or fewer. Whatever config-
uration you choose, this project is a
great clutter solution for the garage,
workshop or craft room.
Shop before
you build
Our cabinet is built for Husky 11-in.
Parts Bin Organizers ($4) from The
Home Depot. Most discount stores
and home centers carry similar bins. Be
sure the bins you choose have a sturdy
rim that can rest on the runners.
You’ll also need a 2 x 4-ft. sheet of
1/2-in. plywood for the cabinet box. If
you have a table saw, you can cut run-
ners from any 3/4-in.-thick board. If
not, check the millwork aisle at your
home center. You’ll find 1/4 x 3/4-in.
stock like we used or other moldings
that will work. When you’re done WHAT IT TAKES
shopping, just follow Photos 1 – 3 TIME COST SKILL LEVEL
and Figure A to build the cabinet. 1 hour $50 Beginner
TOOLS Basic hand tools,
drill, saw

Centerline
Runner Runner
Locations Side Blank
b MARK BOTH

CABINET SIDES
AT ONCE
bATTACH
RUNNERS
THE
<RXFDQXVHEUDGVVWDSOHVQDLOVRU
bCUT THE BLANK
IN HALF
6HWWKHWDEOHVDZIHQFHDWĥLQDQG
0DUNWKHFHQWHUOLQHDQGWKHUXQQHU VFUHZV-XVWEHVXUHWRNHHSWKHIDVĥ FXWWKHEODQN6LQFHWKHEODQNLVVOLJKWO\
ORFDWLRQVRQWRDVLQJOHSO\ZRRGEODQN WHQHUVDWOHDVWLQDZD\IURPWKH RYHUVL]HGDOVRWULPWKHRIIFXWVLGHWR
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WRPDNHWZRLGHQWLFDOFDELQHWVLGHV \RXUVDZLQ6WHS PDNHWKHFXWVZLWKDFLUFXODUVDZRU
MLJVDZ-RLQWKHWZRVLGHVWRWKHWRS
ERWWRPDQGEDFNDVVKRZQLQ)LJXUH$
Figure A Benchtop Organizer

Overall dimensions: 15-1/4" tall x 11-3/4" wide x 8" deep
Back:
1-1/4" **Runner: 11-3/4" x 15-1/4"
Screw 1/4" x 3/4"
x 7-1/2"
NOTES:
All dimensions *Side:
given accom- 7-1/2" x
15-1/4"
modate the
plastic bins we
used. Adjust
these measure-
ments to suit
your bins. 2"
Top, bottom,
sides and back 2"
are 1/2-in.
ILLUSTRATION: DAVID MUNKITTRICK
plywood.
2"
*Start with a
side blank
that’s 15-1/4"
x 15-1/4".
**Start with
runners Top/Bottom:
7-1/2" x 10-3/4"
15-1/4" long.
Health
How a Chicago Doctor Shook Up the Hearing

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HomeCare+Repair Fix it, maintain it, improve it. By Jason White
How to Drive
Drywall Screws
Like a Pro
These three tools
1 make it easy to
do the job right
1. Self-feeding
drywall screw gun
If you’re covering an entire garage
or basement in drywall, it’s worth
JHWWLQJDVHOIĥIHHGLQJGU\ZDOOVFUHZJXQ
The screws are collated, and the driver
SUHVHQWVDVFUHZHYHU\WLPH\RXQHHGRQH
7KHOHDVWH[SHQVLYHPRGHOVDUHFRUGHG 2 THE BASICS:
The key to driving
drywall screws is to
($100 to $200) set the screw heads
slightly below the
2. Corded drywall screw gun surface of the dry-
wall without break-
3URVKDYHEHHQXVLQJWKHVHIRUGHFDGHV7KH\¶UH ing the paper facing.
very fast, setting screws almost instantly, but since
you have to load the screws one at a time by hand,
LWWDNHVDORWRISUDFWLFHWRJHWSURILFLHQW
($50 to $100)
3. Adapter for cordless

drywall screw gun
If you have only a few sheets of drywall to hang,
\RX¶OOEHILQHXVLQJ\RXUFRUGOHVVGULOOGULYHU%XW
do yourself a favor and buy a drywall screw
DGDSWHU,WDXWRPDWLFDOO\VHWVWKHVFUHZKHDGMXVW
below the surface of
the paper without
breaking through, leavĥ
3
ing a small dimple that
\RXILOOZLWKMRLQW
FRPSRXQG
($5 to $10)

HO ME CARE+RE PA IR
LEARN FROM THE PROS
Do you need a
water softener?
I
f soap and detergent aren’t
doing a good job of getting
you or your clothes clean, you
might have hard water, a prob-
lem easily solved with a water
softener. Water softeners rid
your water of “hardness”—
naturally occurring calcium and
magnesium ions that are in your
water and leave spots on dishes,
cause scale buildup on shower
walls and doors, and damage
water-using appliances.
But before you go spending
thousands, or even hundreds of
dollars, installing a water soft-
ener, go to the home center and
buy a water quality test kit
($10). These kits measure total
hardness and other contami-
nants like iron, copper and
nitrates. The results are instant—
you don’t have to send the
samples to a lab for analysis.
ELECTRICAL ADVICE
Which wire nuts?
E
ver wonder which color wire connector you
should use to join wires in a junction box?
Master electrician Rex Cauldwell has this
to say:
“If the wire nut is too small to fasten properly,
jump to the next size. As a general rule, use orange
connectors for tiny wires; yellow connectors for
14-gauge; red connectors for 12-gauge; and big
blue connectors for 10-gauge. When in doubt, read
the packaging. It should list the exact number of
wires that can go inside a wire connector.”

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3 Foods Doctors Are Now

Calling “Health Killers”
There are many foods that we should be

Some of these foods have been disguised
avoiding in order to stay healthy and look
as “health foods.” These foods could be
our best.
causing what is called “gut yeast” to be
growing inside of your stomach.
Being healthy and looking good is a big
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may be harming you from the inside.
the summer season where we want to look
Some doctors are even calling these 3
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The problem is that there are 3 harmful
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H O ME CA R E +R E PA IR
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when something’s on sale but feels like half his life
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PRO ADVICE Summer
Time to upgrade your
electrical service? is a burglar’s
A
n electrical panel upgrade can cost anywhere
from $1,200 to $3,000. So why do it? Master
electrician and electrical inspector John
Williamson offers the following reasons:
favorite season.
Q If you have an old 60-amp breaker panel (or fuse
box), a mortgage lender or insurance company might
force you to replace it with a new 100-amp panel to
prevent an electrical fire, thereby minimizing its risk.
Q An upgraded panel might help you sell your home
faster because it gives a prospective buyer one less
thing to worry about.
Q Some old panels won’t accept modern GFCI- and
AFCI-protected circuit breakers, but a newer panel
will.
Q A new panel, along with a new meter socket and
service entrance wires, is an opportunity to increase
the capacity of the electrical
system. Old 60-amp and
100-amp panels are often
replaced with 200-amp and even
400-amp panels these days
because of the increased number
of electrical appliances people
use in their homes.
MEET THE EXPERT
Q It’s an opportunity to bring your John Williamson is
service up to code. a master electri-
Q You can’t beat the convenience cian and electrical
inspector in
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breakers in new panels.
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H O ME CA R E +R E PA IR
PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENT
Got carpenter ants?

C
arpenter ants can damage your home, but they can also warn you of
serious trouble. They’re attracted to damp, rotting wood. So if you see
them, there’s a good chance that moisture is entering your walls or
ceilings, causing structural damage that could cost thousands to repair. For
some help identifying carpenter ants, see the website listed below.
Find the nest Kill the ants

To get rid of the ants, you have to After you fix the water leak, it’s
find the nest. “Worker” carpenter time to fix the ant problem. Spray Mylar
ants are black or red and black. an aerosol insecticide into the nest.
Look for them when they’re most Reduce the risk of future infesta-
active–generally between sunset tions by not leaving
and midnight during the spring food or sweet drinks
and summer months. Try setting out in the open, and
out honey or tuna packed in water by keeping pet food in
to attract them, then follow them a tightly sealed con-
PHOTO: HENRIK LARSSON/SHUTTERSTOCK (TOP)
back to their nest. Use a flashlight tainer. Also trim any

with red Mylar film over the lens bushes or tree branches
(they can’t see red light) so you can that contact the house,
see them in the dark—you can buy and never store firewood
Mylar film at art supply stores. against the building. Call
Small piles of coarse sawdust are a an exterminator if none of
sign that an active nest is nearby. these strategies work.
Once you locate the nest, figure The University of
out why the wood is getting wet Minnesota Extension has
and fix the problem. We have lots more great information
lots of advice about that at about carpenter ants at
familyhandyman.com—just search extension.umn.edu/garden/
for “water leak.” insects/find/carpenter-ants/
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© 2017 by MacNeil IP LLC

Car +Garage
Expert advice on repair, maintenance and gear. By Rick Muscoplat
Smart
Garage
Storage
7 Great solutions
to maximize your
time in the garage
1
Keep your tools handy
with a rolling cart
In the old days you laid out the tools you
needed on a fender pad. Try that on a
late-model vehicle with a sloped fender
and you’ll find your tools on the floor. So
buy a rolling cart (U.S. General No. 5107;
$45 at harborfreight.com) and keep all
your tools right at your fingertips.

CA R + GARAGE Sliding Lock
PVC
Coupler
3
Hang ’em high
Air tools don’t come with hooks,
Floor
Jack they don’t nest well in drawers, and
on a workbench top they just add to
2 the clutter. So plunk down 20 bucks

for this locking air tool holder and
your life will be complete. Your
tools will be neatly organized on
Jack and jack-stand holder the wall, and you can snap on a
Haven’t you tripped over your jack stands long enough? Build this simple padlock to keep them securely in
storage rack and get them off the floor. If you have a lightweight floor jack, place. The Lisle locking air tool
add mounting hooks under the holder. Screw a 2-in. PVC coupler to the holder (No. 49960) is available at
side of the rack and a 2-in. cap on the wall near the floor for the handle. auto parts stores and online.
5
Grab one glove
at a time
To keep your box of nitrile gloves
4 handy and make it easier to grab

just one glove instead of a hand-
ful, add this magnetic glove box
holder to your shop. It costs about
PVC drawer organizers $20 at auto parts stores. You could
When you’re right in the middle of a project, you don’t need to waste time even put it on your toolbox or roll-
pawing through drawers looking for tools. So use this handy setup to keep ing cart and yank out new gloves
your tools neatly arranged in your workbench drawer. wherever you need them. You can
Cut 1- or 2-in. PVC pipe to length. Glue on end caps and slice each pipe also find many styles of glove dis-
in half on a band saw. Screw them to the drawer bottoms and load them up! pensers online.

SAVE
2" Coupler TODAY.
VACATION
TOMORROW.
My Summer
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2" Cap
Snacks
6
Grease gun holster
A grease gun is big and, uh, greasy. But you don’t have to get it on your Games
drawers or cabinets. Cut a few sections of 1-in. and 3-in. PVC pipe and
screw them to a plywood backer to make this slick grease gun holder.
Then attach a 2-in. coupler and cap to hold a backup tube of grease.
oѴ;7
Water
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(Bet you knew
I’d say that.)
7
Sheet metal drawer liners
If you use old kitchen cabinets in your workshop, it’s a bad idea to
throw oily, greasy tools into those drawers, where the wood soaks up GEICO.COM
everything. So here’s a tip for you: Ɛ҃ѶƏƏ҃ƖƓƕ҃&$ҐƑѶѶѵґ
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any HVAC shop. For about $20 per drawer, you can get a custom liner
for each one. The interiors will look like new, and you’ll be able to clean Some discounts, coverages, payment plans and features are not available in all
them as needed. states or all GEICO companies. GEICO is a registered service mark of Government
Employees Insurance Company, Washington, D.C. 20076; a Berkshire Hathaway
FAMILYHANDYMAN.COM SEPTEMBER 2017 73 Inc. subsidiary. GEICO Gecko image © 1999-2017. © 2017 GEICO
Home Tech
New solutions for today’s home. By Rick Muscoplat
WI-FI
GARAGE 1
DOOR
OPENERS
Operate your garage 2
door from anywhere
with a smartphone.
D
aytime burglaries
are on the rise,
and an open
garage door is
an invitation for
thieves. But
an Internet-
connected system makes it easy 3
for you to check the door’s status
and close it right from your smart-
phone or tablet. We talked to the
experts from the major opener
manufacturers to get the scoop on
how the openers work, what they
cost and how they’re installed.
Here’s what we learned.
MORE THAN
JUST OPERATING
THE DOOR 4
The smart device apps also alert
you if the door has been open too
long, opened manually (indicating
a break-in), or opened by a friend
or neighbor from the wireless
PHOTO 3: GENIE
keypad. Plus, you can program the

app to close the door after a set
number of minutes or on a set
schedule, like bedtime.

Figure A
How a hub-operated opener works
Garage Door
Opener The Atoms opener has a built-in door

THE LATEST sensor and can be operated remotely with
OPENERS AND the addition of a Skylink HU100 hub ($80)
CONTROLLERS and app. The Skylink hub connects to your
home’s router with an Ethernet cable and
communicates with the opener using a propri-
etary wireless technology instead of Wi-Fi.
ATOMS
1 No. AT1723B
opener plus
No. HU100 Skylink hub
This belt drive unit works
remotely with the add-on
hub. It also has a soft
Hub
open/close feature that’s
The hub receives the Router Phone
easier on your door hinges
status from the The router relays Use the
and track hardware.
opener and sends information from manufacturer’s
Add an optional backup
commands to the the hub and your app to check
battery at any time. $280
opener using a wire- phone hub door status
including the hub.
less signal. The hub through an remotely
connects to your Ethernet cable. and send
router with an open/close
Ethernet cable. commands.
CHAMBERLAIN
2 No. WD100WF
This opener has
built-in Wi-Fi and a door
sensor and comes with a Figure B How a Wi-Fi opener works
backup battery. The
1-1/4-hp-similar DC motor
and belt drive system help
Garage Door
it run quieter than a chain
drive unit. $270 Opener The Chamberlain, Genie and Ryobi Wi-Fi
openers each have a built-in door sensor,
so they don’t require any additional
equipment. Just download the app and
Opener pair the unit with your home’s Wi-Fi. You
GENIE A Wi-Fi opener can also convert an existing opener to
3 SilentMax
This 3/4-hp HPc
has a built-in make it Wi-Fi compatible (see p. 76).
door sensor
motor unit has built-in
that communi-
Wi-Fi and a door sensor.
cates directly
The belt drive provides
with your
quieter operation, and the
router, so you
soft start and stop feature
don’t need a
reduces wear. $198
controller.
Phone
RYOBI Wi-Fi Router
4 Ultra-Quiet
No. GD200
Your router
receives status
Use the
manufacturer’s
This belt drive opener app to check
signals from the
comes with all the usual door status
opener and sends
features plus the option to remotely and
open/close com-
add on accessories such send open/
mands to it.
as laser parking beams, close
Bluetooth speaker, fan and commands.
a backup battery. $248

HO ME T EC H
3 WAYS TO REMOTELY IMPROVE THE
CONTROL YOUR WI-FI SIGNAL
GARAGE OPENER IN YOUR GARAGE
• Make an existing opener Wi-Fi openers and controllers need a
work with Wi-Fi good Wi-Fi signal to work properly.
The Chamberlain MyQ Garage and Genie Check the signal strength in your
Aladdin Connect controller kits cost about garage using your smart device. If
you don’t get a gootd signal, try
$120. Each kit comes with one door
moving your router closer to the
sensor. Additional sensors cost about $35 garage or buy a Wi-Fi extender or a
each. The MyQ Garage controls two open- more powerful router. Or buy a hub-
ers, and the Aladdin Connect controls up operated opener instead of a Wi-Fi
Genie
to three openers. Check the company’s Controller unit.
website to make sure your opener is com-
patible with the Wi-Fi kit before you buy.
• Buy a new opener with built-in Wi-Fi
The Chamberlain, Genie and Ryobi Wi-Fi
openers shown on the previous page
have a built-in door sensor, and the units
communicate directly with your home’s
Wi-Fi.
• Buy a hub-operated system
The Atoms/Skylink opener and hub shown
on the previous page work as a stand-
alone, remotely controlled garage door
opener or as part of a Skylink home secu-
rity and home automation system. To learn
how a hub-operated opener works, see Skylink Hub
Figure A.
Tabletop
Extender
End Backbreaking Work!
Wall
Plug-In
Extender
Clear Tons of Leaves Sitting Down

The Cyclone Rake hitches to any riding mower and turns weeks of hard Folds Up Flat
HOW DOES
work into a few easy hours. Powerful engine-driven vacuum mulcher
for Storage!
A WI-FI RANGE
lifts and pulverizes tons of leaves, pine straw and debris as you drive. EXTENDER
In spring and summer your overgrown lawns will look like fairways.
WORK?
• Folds flat for storage. You can even hang it on the wall! A range extender receives the Wi-Fi
• 5 different models to fit any property size signal from a wireless router. The
• One-Year Risk-FREE Trial and FREE 3-Year Warranty extender then amplifies the signal
PHOTO CREDIT: NAME
• Affordable Factory-direct Prices and rebroadcasts it. An extender

($80 to $100) can double your Wi-Fi
Get A FREE INFO KIT coverage. Locate it halfway between
your garage and your router. Range
Call: 1-800-746-8305 extenders vary in strength; higher-
Visit: CycloneRake.com priced models offer the longest range.
Woodland Power Products, Inc. • 72 Acton Street • West Haven, CT 06516 76 SEPTEMBER 2017 FAMILYHANDYMAN.COM
WHAT’S WRONG
WITH THIS PICTURE?
We’ll show you the problem—and the fix. By Jeff Gorton
Tailpiece
Long Side
of Trap
UPS AND DOWNS
Backward Trap
This trap is installed the wrong
way, requiring extra fittings and
creating a situation that could
result in water being siphoned
from the trap.
THE RIGHT WAY: Tailpiece

The long side of the trap Extension
connects to the sink tail-
piece. The key is to make
sure the tailpiece is the
right length so the waste
arm lines up with the drain
opening. That’s easy to do Waste
Arm
by either cutting the tail-
piece or adding a tailpiece
extension as shown Trap
at right.

WH AT’S W R O N G
ALL GORILLA.
PERFECTLY WRONG
Upside-Down Air Barrier

Putting plastic sheeting on top of insulation may tidy up the attic, but it’s a
bad idea. It will trap water vapor inside the house. But worse yet, in a cold
climate, the trapped water vapor will condense when it hits the cold plas-
tic, and the water will drip down and soak underlying insulation, rot wood,
destroy ceilings and create a perfect ecosystem for mold.
THE RIGHT WAY:

The air barrier should be on the warm side of the insulation to stop air
movement and prevent moist air from getting into the insulation. In this
case, the plastic should have been installed underneath the ceiling fram-
ing before installing the drywall ceilings, never on top.
MEA CULPA
Metal
CORRECTION Conduit
DON’T
DO
THIS! Male
Connector
All Surface. All Purpose.

Subfloor Foamboard
Mirrors Stone
Landscaping Laminate
Trim/Paneling Ceramic In “What’s Wrong With This
Decks Brick Picture?” in our June ’17 issue
Screw-On Push-On
Drywall Tile (p. 76), we said that one Insulating Insulating
way to protect nonmetallic Bushing Bushing
Tub & Shower Aluminum
sheathed cable that’s exiting metal
Metal Concrete conduit is to add a coupler. That’s
Masonry Fiberglass wrong. Instead, we should have Cable
Granite Painted Surfaces presented these two code-compli-
Wet Surfaces Plastic ant options. Either method shown
Caulking And More! here will protect the cable’s insula-
tion from the sharp edge at the
end of the conduit.
www.gorillatough.com 78 SEPTEMBER 2017 FAMILYHANDYMAN.COM
Porcelain
Tube
Spliced
Wire
Porcelain
Knob
Armored SEN
Cable A D US
If yo PHOT
d som O!
u fin
odd,
w r e t
dang ong, fun hing
it to erous, e ny or
us fo mail
publ r possib
icatio le
SHA n.
feed RE WITH
hand ack@famUS
b
yman il
HAPHAZARD WIRING .com y
MISSING ELECTRICAL BOX
Y
ou don’t have to be an electrical inspector to know there’s some-
thing wrong here. Old knob-and-tube wiring is powering this attic
light, and someone either added a switch or decided to tap into the
power with an armored cable. There are several code violations, but the
main problem is the wire connections aren’t enclosed in an electrical box.
THE RIGHT WAY:

Below, a section of the knob-and-tube wires has been covered with plastic
sheathing removed from modern nonmetallic sheathed cable. The sheath-
ing protects the old wires where they enter the electrical box through a
cable connector. The properly sized electrical box contains the wire con-
nections and supports the new pull-chain light fixture. A ground wire is
attached to the metal box with a machine screw and is connected to the
electrical grounding system.
Ground Wire
Metal
Electrical
Box
Added
Plastic
Sheathing
Old
Knob-and-Tube
Wiring

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Family Handyman? EDITORIAL

Editor-in-Chief Gary Wentz
Get our best tips Senior Editor

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and hints in your Brad Holden,
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Managing Editor
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the page to get expert step-by-step help your behalf. Digital Content Editor Andrew Zoellner
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THE FAMILY HANDYMAN® ISSN: 0014-7230, USPS: 515-930. Vol. 67, No. 6, 581st Edition. Published 8 times per year: March, April, May, June, July/
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Great Goofs Laughs and lessons from our readers
®
HOT PANTS!
Working down a list of weekend
chores, I found myself on a step-
ladder changing the 9-volt battery
in a smoke detector. After I stuck
the new battery into the unit, I
slipped the old one into my pants
pocket and headed off to the hard-
ware store for my next task.
On the drive there, I felt a
strange warmth on my thigh. It
quickly escalated to dang hot
followed by a worrisome burning
smell. I screeched to a stop at the
side of the road and hopped out of
my truck—and my pants.
My pocket change had shorted
out the not-so-dead battery termi-
nals, making the coins hot enough
to char clear through the lining of
my pants and singe a few leg hairs.
Now I know where the Energizer
Bunny gets the spring in its step.
WALT PARKER
ASK BEFORE YOU BORROW DILIGENT

After a big demolition job, I needed a big shop vacuum—just like my
neighbor’s new one. He wasn’t home, but I figured he wouldn’t mind if
DETECTOR
I went into his garage and helped myself. Then I got to work. I was so
When I drywalled the ceil-
focused on the cleanup that it took me a while to notice the haze in ing in my basement, I forgot
front of me. Behind me, I could see to remove a smoke detector
nothing but a swirling cloud. that was hanging on a joist.
The vac had picked up Of course, I discovered
piles of demo dust and
it only when the battery
ILLUSTRATIONS: STEVE BJÖRKMAN
blasted it into the

adjoining rooms. began to die and the detec-
As I was returning tor started that annoying
the vac, the garage chirp. The noise was surpris-
door opened and my ingly hard to pinpoint.
neighbor pulled in. I Rather than tear down the
just stood there,
coated with white dust,
drywall in an attempt to find
holding the vac like a the exact location, we fig-
trapped thief. He got ured the battery would die
EDITOR: TRAVIS LARSON
out of the car and soon enough.

smiled. “I could have It has been two months
told you there’s no
now, and I’m still reminded
filter in it, Jerry,” he
said, trying not to of this goof about every 30
laugh. seconds.
JERRY SOMMERS JEREMY BOGE

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