epirnik

Hi jh03361: In the tool-actuated vacuum segment, Chuck actually did mention the need to be sure you're not going to drill into any electrical components before-hand. Have another look. The reminder appears at minute 1:10 in that video. Just wanted to chime in since I was one of the producers on that segment.

Cheers and thank you for watching!

Best,
Ed

Hi folks: It's 3:20 p.m. (EST) here and we're recording the podcast. So look for a winner later today! Cheers and thanks for commenting.

Briandotca: Success. Try the new embedded MP3 player.

Cheers,

Ed

Hi Briandotca: The old embedded player is no longer supported by the company that used to host it. So one day about a week ago, the player suddenly disappeared from the old posts. I'm still searching for a suitable player so folks who don't use iTunes can still listen via the blog post.

In the meantime, you can also catch it here:

http://www.blip.tv/file/3555447/

I hope that helps!

Cheers,
Ed

Good point, Matt. Thank you for chiming in!

8% of respondents have voted legitimate in the poll and 92% reported frivolous. That said, despite the overwhelming numbers who see the lawsuit in a negative light, it seems like most of you still want to see the technology in as many saws as possible. It's an interesting dichotomy, to be sure.

I'm still left wondering as to whether or not it will be possible - some day - to use this technology in portable circular saws. The moist lumber issue is a major stumbling block but I wonder if there's another measurement (as opposed to conductivity moist skin which could ALSO trip in moist wood) that could be employed here. Any ideas? Who is an electrical engineer out there? Come on - we've got to have ONE!

MFournier: You hit the nail on the head with regards to the problems the technology would encounter with portable circular saws. Wet or even slightly moist lumber is of course going to cause lots of unintended trips of the brake. That said, I remain hopeful that a way will be found to get around that problem. Perhaps a way might be found to differentiate between the electrical continuity provided by a human finger as opposed to wet wood. I'm no electrical engineer but that's where I'd put my money. Cheers, Ed

Is it me or does the system seem a bit cumbersome? If I'm running decking, I want to cruise through the process, not worry about having to use what amounts to a biscuit cutter twice for each joist, before attaching my fasteners.

I suppose the clips can be used with pre-grooved boards?

Waterbear:

Your comments are one of the prime reasons for recording these podcasts. I'll be forwarding your comments on to our editor-in-chief.

Many thanks for chiming in.

Best,

-Ed

All I can say is: WOW!

As someone struggling to figure out how to afford his first home, what type of home, etc, etc - this information was downright inspiring!

Hi guys,

Yup, as I said in the blog post, you'll be able to download - via iTunes (free) - the podcast shortly. We're in the process of setting up a feed.

Thanks! And I will keep you posted. I hope to have things set up by the end of this week - for episode two.

Cheers,

Ed

Reminds me of my great-grandfather's story.

Way back when - long before all the legal tools lenders now have to protect themselves - he had a nice home in a decent neighborhood (this is the 1930s) that had begun to change in a negative way. He saw the writing on the wall: property values were about to dip significantly in his area and he wanted out . . . fast.

So. . . he mortgaged his house, pocketed the money and walked away, leaving the existing house for the bank to take. The assessed value on the house at the time of his second mortgage, was still very reasonable. And he was right, within a year, property values in that old neighborhood tanked.

Smart move but not exactly ethical. And I'm not so sure folks could get away with that nowadays. ha ha ha

-Ed

HI kg4vqi,

When we upload the archived video as a podcast, we'll be including some still shots as visual aids. Thanks for dropping in!

Cheers,

-Ed

GK:

This is fascinating! I'd like more details - how much did this cost to produce? Can you offer up more information on the materials used? I'm assuming these units are assembled in a factory. While I don't think this would solve Haiti's problem - I could see this as a solution for housing in nations that are a bit more developed - with more industrial capacity.

More info, please! Great design.

-Ed

Dreamcatcher - this is great! Keep 'em coming!!!

Best,
-Ed

werneck: I think it's important to remember that Haiti is largely deforested, so any idea involving wood might be a no-go, as materials would need to be imported. This brings to mind something Pliny Fisk mentioned to me during a recent conversation - you've got to build structures that are climatically relevant. You've also got to make an effort to map all local resources before beginning any long-term project of this nature. What works in the Amazon isn't necessarily an appropriate technique for use in the Haiti - or the Caribbean in general.

oldmarine: I couldn't agree with you more. The proper building site is every bit as important as the actual structure that sits upon it. In many photos, I've noticed densely packed shanty-towns located on steep hills that seem ripe for mudslides and other potential natural disasters. Port-au-Prince had a population of well under a million in the early eighties. That population has skyrocketed in recent years to several million and yet, the area simply doesn't have the infrastructure to handle those numbers.

CPowell raises an excellent point. Haiti - like many impoverished nations - is full of corruption. A great many folks stand to make a heck of a lot of money off of this crisis and you can bet that if some sort of building code is adopted in Haiti, plenty of folks will be willing to bribe the inspector to get a "passing grade" on their structure. And that inspector, who's probably earning very little as far as wages are concerned, will be more than happy to take that bribe if it means feeding his own family.

Food for thought - how do you avoid rampant corruption in this process?

Best,

-Ed

Excellent point, atinius. As a matter of fact, U.S. Navy divers are working on port upgrades as we speak.

That said, I still feel that we can't rely on too many products being imported. Sustainable, recycled building materials will win the day in this fight - along with good old fashioned human ingenuity!

Cheers,

-Ed

bkacker:

Indeed, solar power almost seems like a "no-brainer." The one problem - as I see it - is the expense.

Regarding the "hurricane-proof" aspect - the average size house we're talking about here is only about 500-600 square feet. Add to that the fact that Haitian families aren't using nearly the amount of energy we are in nations like the United States, so their consumption is much less - meaning a much smaller solar array. I wonder if it would be feasible to simply have a few panels to provide basic electricity, and install them so as to make it simple to unplug panels and move them inside to a safe location during rough storms.

-Ed

CosmicCow, Shipping containers are without-a-doubt, worth considering. Or course, getting them to a place like Haiti would be the next step. I still wonder if there is a better alternative using what's on the ground. Have a look at this collection of container houses.

http://green.yahoo.com/blog/daily_green_news/8/twelve-amazing-shipping-container-houses.html

Thermo: You are officially on my "hero" list. You hit the nail on the head!

"OK, let me get this straight. You guys can't think for yourselves. You couldn't shop around and look at what other homes were selling for and make your own judgement of relativce value. Besides, it didn't really matter anyway, because as far as you knew, homes only went up in value, they never wnet down. After all this was the good old USA. We never had a great deprssion here. That was all a lie. Everyone was in a giant conspiracy against you, including the real estate agent and the appraiser. You were intentionally mislead by the big bad bankers. You wanted the biggest house you could get a loan on, but only if it went up in value - a guaranteed investment, in other words. If it went up, you would get to sell it and keep the profit. If it went down, you could stop paying, give the keys back, and the mortgage lender and their outside investors (or the bank and their depositors and shareholders) should take the loss for you. Then, you believe your credit should still be OK. That way you can do it all again."

Ditto for the bankers who overvalued homes in appraisals, etc.

A great many of the folks who got into this "underwater" mess, got there because they were willing to pay ridiculous, absurd prices for overvalued homes, thus artificially driving up the cost of new homes for everyone - including first time buyers. Gone are the days of the baby boomer generation when a couple earning an honest living could easily afford a modest home. It is becoming increasingly apparent that home ownership is more-and-more, something for the wealthy.

Why?

In large part because of all those folks willing to overpay for their homes. This isn't rocket science. If you're paying $650K for a 2BR home in an ordinary culdesac, you've GOT to know that the price is either A) NOT going to increase or B) Absolutely decrease.

So for those folks who helped to artificially raise overall home values to absurd levels and are now underwater - I have no sympathy. Nor do I believe they should be permitted to walk away from their mortgages. Absolutely not.

Let the debate begin! LOL

-Ed

How about:

• Trunk Knife

• Closet Knife

• Flatbed Trailer Knife

• Storage Locker Knife

Sheesh.

Sigh.

I have to confess - that was one of my favorite parts of homebuilding. It was just so satisfying to send a staple home with a tacker.

It's alright Justin, I'll take him out back by the shed, he's MY tacker. I'll do it.

Hi professors,

I've been using pre-mixed shellac for years and years and have never experienced anything even remotely like this. Ditto for my colleagues. It was indeed a puzzler!

Cheers,

Ed

To be honest, I feel as though these credits are real no-brainers. For some, the up-front costs may seem prohibitive however, in the long run, consumers can save a heck of a lot of money. And some of this technology - like residential fuel cells, is just plane fascinating! Who knew!?

Hi Piffin,

To be honest, when using wipe-on or brush applied stains and finishes, I've never felt any need to use glasses. That will of course be changing after yesterday's events.

By the way, the offending stained maple planed right off! I have yet to exchange that can of shellac, though. Perhaps Monday morning.

Cheers,

Ed

I started using Paslodes a little over 10 years ago, and while yes, they can be finicky from time-to-time, I found them a helluva lot easier to use than conventional pneumatic nailers. I don't care what anyone says, that damn tube is a real pain in the a**.

Just my two cents.

Cheers,

-Ed

Thanks everyone for your comments. Please keep them coming, as I'll be printing out a hole whack of these to take to an upcoming editorial meeting! I realize it can seem as if these comments will never be seen but, we DO read blog post comments on a regular basis.

Cheers,

-Ed

Heh heh, thanks Huck.

I must admit, it's great to see folks pick up a skill like homebuilding - granted, this fellow isn't your typical homebuilder - late in life. It takes a lot of guts to confront something as daunting as the construction of a home. Especially when you're doing it on the fly, incorporating random items. Neat stuff.

-Ed

Metalsguy: "Great Video, A cross between a mattress advertisement and some of the shop teachers . . . " Maybe I should have gone for a more "Billy Mays" look. LOL

gonuts: I'm seeing the Stiletto TIBAR 16" going for $209. It's anything but cheap!

And as I said in the video - I've seen PLENTY of folks over the years banging on a hammer head in order to coax the claw under a stubborn nail head.

Metalsguy: I could have used you when setting this rig up!

Chemdad: Tell me about it! I once quit a framing crew up in Rochester, New York after I discovered that one of the guys sheathing roofs with me was a drug addict. Never safe to be tossin' around sheets of 4x8 with someone who is high as a kite. Walked off the job that afternoon and didn't look back.

I think that in the end, there are simply so many variables involved, that actually reproducing it can be touch. Casting, forging methods, etc, are handled differently in different countries. Who knows what kind of oversight foreign manufacturing firms have in place. Looking back, I don't think it's so surprising that it didn't work out the way I had hoped! But like I said, I've heard too many stories - from you folks and those over at Fine Woodworking - to ignore the phenomenon!

Cheers all,

-Ed

Hi Dooman, sorry for the delayed response - I was busy getting married this weekend.

Anyhow, while IRS Code 25C was indeed targeted at existing homes and expired in 2007, it was reinstated by former President George W. Bush near the end of his second term.

The latest credit program, 25D, saw increases in the amount of the credits and are geared towards new construction as well as remodel jobs.

The tricky part comes when taking into account the various caps on these credits and how they work. Some aspects are capped individually, some are capped in groups, some have no caps, some expire sooner than others. It gets a bit confusing but I'll be working to get more information out there in the near term.

In the end, it's all pretty interesting stuff!

Best,

Ed

I think we're all in agreement on this - any antagonistic feelings towards the new code stem from some folks' aversion to being ordered around. "Mandatory" raises the hackles on a lot of folks.

The overall cost is nothing when rolled into a $300K house, sprinklers nowadays are very concealable, and I would imagine that sprinkler systems will put a nice dent in home insurance premiums.

Hi Inga,

We should have the finished, edited series on the site in September.

Cheers,

Ed

PS: I think the guys are checking the comments everyday. I don't know as to his married "status." ;)

Hi NS_1,

Look for possibly full screen images in the future. We're working on some ideas.

As for the TP blocking. You've got a point in that it's not mandated but I've got to admit, I feel it's necessary. In my opinion, there's nothing more annoying than a TP holder or other small accessory that jiggles loose in its screw anchors after a few months - and keeps jiggling loose over time!

Cheers and glad you enjoy the game!

-Ed

Just in case anyone's looking for information on the not-so-conventional sheathing used on the shed project, have a look at senior editor Justin Fink's article from 2008.

http://www.finehomebuilding.com/how-to/departments/tools-and-materials/weather-resistant-sheathing-zip-wall-and-roof-panel-system.aspx?ac=fp

Are these all seperate, unconnected pieces of wood? If so, I think I've got a way to make this tip even better.

Let's take one level composed of four pieces of oak as an example. If we were to have these pieces dowled or pinned together in such a way that the whole unit could then fold in on itself, you'd have a great way to store these little units.

Nice tip, plyboy.

Best,

Ed

Hi folks,

All good suggestions that I'm forwarding to the crew!

Cheers,

-Ed

Good point, Justin. I stand corrected.

Please be advised that I'll be lobbing spitball mortars into your cube. Attack will commence sometime after 09:30 hours.

Hooah!

Hi John316:

At this point, they're nailing joist hangers so nailers would be impossible.

Of course, there is also the fact that sometimes it's just fun to swing a hammer!

Best,

Ed

Hi ChuckB,

The fellas will in fact be zooming in when they return from their lunch break, not to worry.

Best,

-Ed

RC:

Our term - when I was apprenticing with a timber-frame carpenter years ago - for those times when it just seemed to take forever to get the steam really going, was "craft project."

Seems like even the most simple things have the uncanny ability to turn into these craft projects that take way too long.

Cheers,

Ed

Hi geeDavid,

I have a feeling that once these guys start making some sawdust - we'll be in business!

Cheers,

-Ed

Hi folks,

Just wanted to let you know that sound is indeed back. Our apologies for that extended "coffee break," as trolleydrver so aptly put it!

Cheers everyone,

-Ed

I was thinking about this just last night. I've got a carpenter buddy who lives in a country where this sort of ingenuity would go over REALLY well.

In Cuba, folks trick out bicycles with small engines all the time. I'm willing to bet that if they had access to Lithium-Ion batteries, it would be ON!

Granted, I cannot be a part of this giveaway but, it's NOT gonna happen. A laser requires and end point, someplace for the beam to bounce off of. That's where the point of measurement ends. I'f I'm cutting, say a 2x6 on a set of sawhorses, how the heck I'm I supposed to use a laser to get that measurement?

I'll stick to beat-up, rusty, been-everywhere-with-me Stanley tape, thank you very much.

Cheers,

Ed

Hi ChimeWind,

Excellent question. There are a variety of companies out there now using sustainable harvesting techniques. Most of the suppliers I looked into when pricing out my material were obtaining material from these types of sources. I think it's simply a reflection of the popularity of the species in construction these days.

On a relates side note, there are even farms in South America offering investment plans for tropical hardwood. These farms run sustainable outfits and have some pretty decent ROIs. It's an interesting phenomenon.

Best,

-Ed

Hi teleart24, How close to the ground was your deck's surface? In my experience, as long as I had plenty of ventilation beneath my decking, I was OK with regards to cupping. I used Ipe Clip "extreme" clips and had about 16" of clearance between deck surface and the soil. Cheers, -Ed

Hi again, Dirk:

I just placed a couple of phone calls and the response I received was in keeping with my own theory.

The fine dust caused by the sawing of Ipé settles on the skin and mixes with your perspiration. This "slurry" then settles into the skin's pores and causes a contact dermatitis. Simply touching the board isn't really going to cause any penetration into the skin but that fine dust/sweat mixture certainly will!

Best,

Ed

Hi Dirk,

All of the reports I've found have involved dust, and not direct contact with the actual lumber. After I began using the dust mask and gloves during cutting, I continued to haul boards around without gloves and noticed no problems at all. It's a good question though. I'm going to put that before a couple of biologists I know who might be able to give you a more detailed answer than I can. Check back!

Best,

Ed

Hello, mlherbe:

The deck you see in the photograph is actually from the current issue of Fine Homebuilding. John Michael Davis put together an excellent piece titled "An Elegant Border for Your Deck."

I tried various methods involving the use of clamps in order to straighten boards but in the end, found that the traditional bender was easiest.

As for spacing, the clips used generally provide you with 1/8" spacing for drainage.

Best,

-Ed

EXCELLENT point!

On a side note - for one reason or another, I've never been able to get used to the sound produced by the fuel cell guns. They work quite well but the sound seems a bit "weasey" to me.

So then, the new term should be??

Seems as though with the elimination of backing paper used on conventional fiberglass insulation, homeowners put yet another nail in the coffin of potential mold. Less cellulose material (food) for mold spores means a safer living environment. That plus the technology's effectiveness as an insulator equals a potential win, win situation.

I love this stuff however there is one thing that worries me. Aren't we effectively hermetically sealing (OK, perhaps that's a bit dramatic) our houses by using spray foam technology, and thus having to deal with stale air and the buildup of stray residual chemicals? Seem as though the tighter we seal up our homes, the more potential there is for certain problems to arise.

Just playing "devil's advocate here.

Cheers,

Ed