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Lose the Cap for your Pneumatic Nailer? Try This
6 commentsIf you've lost the cap for the nipple on your pneumatic nailer, but want to keep the dust from building up and clogging the air line, try this simple tip.
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Minimize Circular-Saw Tearout
This zero-clearance circular-saw base ensures the edges of your plywood cuts stay clean
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Pipe Clamp Hold Down for the Job Site
6 commentsThis smart solution for holding down lumber with a make-shift bench is sturdy and cheap
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Stack Cutting Lumber
5 commentsIf you need a number of studs or deck boards cut to the same length, this accurate, time saving trick is your solution
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Small Drywall Patch
13 commentsA simple and effective way of patching small holes in drywall or plaster is done without tape.
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Revive Old Caulk Tubes
13 commentsDoes throwing away an old, clogged caulk tube pain you? At five to ten bucks a pop it could. Here’s a way to revive old caulk tubs and even improve on the design.
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Fitting Coped Crown Molding
4 commentsWith this device, I am able to check my coping without climbing a ladder, and if it is not a good fit, I am able to see exactly where and how much material needs to be removed.
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An Efficient Way to Paint Doors
5 commentsThis simple setup uses a couple of sawhorses, some long screws, and a few pieces of plywood to make a spinner for supporting a door while it is painted.
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There's a Better Way: Large Drywall Patch
15 commentsWhen making a large drywall patch, all you need is a scrap of plywood and some drywall screws.
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There's a Better Way: Installing Crown Molding
1 commentTwo easy ways to make crown molding installation go smoother
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There's a Better Way: Custom Drywall Taping Tool
2 commentsA custom drywall taping knife is cheap, easy to make, and produces excellent results
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There's a Better Way: Drawing an Ellipse-ish
12 commentsBuild a jig to draw a perfect ellipse with just two scraps of wood and a few nails
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Small-Scale Drywall Texturing
1 commentFor quick texture touch-ups, grab a plastic bottle, some joint compound, and an air gun.
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There's a Better Way: Plywood Sheet-Metal Brake
Reader David Kalin of Kaneohe, Hawaii, submitted a simple method for bending steel, copper, or aluminum flashing on site. Charles Miller demonstrates and points out how the flashing can run as long as you've got friends to hold it.
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There's a Better Way: Cutting Rigid Insulation
1 commentTeamed up with a straightedge, a sharpened putty knife cuts through foam like butter
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There's a Better Way: Line-Level Storage
This quick video tip teaches you how to keep track of those little line levels.
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There's a Better Way: A Work Light for Cramped Conditions
Fine Homebuilding reader Peter J. Gootos of Grapevine, Texas, discovered a perfect alternative to drop lights for lighting tight cramped spaces: a rope light made from flexible clear PVC
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There's a Better Way: Prompt Power-Cord Polarity
Submitted by David White of Cupertino, California, and demonstrated by Charles Miller, this expert tip will save you time in aggravation in determining power-cord polarity in tight spaces or dark conditions.
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There's a Better way: A Big Table for a Portable Tablesaw
Fine Homebuilding's Kevin Ireton demonstrates a low-cost solution for making an outfeed table to use with your portable tablesaw.
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We're on the hunt for great reader tips to demonstrate online and include in the magazine.
If you have a tip that you would like to share, visit our new Readers Quick Tips blog to post text, photos, and links to videos. Or, send us an email at: quicktips@taunton.com
About this Blog
Have your ever been frustrated building something and mumbled to yourself, "There's got to be a better way."
Well, thanks to the contributions of our great Tipsters, and the talent of Fine Homebuilding Special Issues editor, Chuck Miller, help has arrived.
Each week, Chuck demonstrates a tip sent in by readers like you or something he learned on a jobsite.
So enjoy, and don't forget to come back each week for a new tip.
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