TRENDING ON FINEHOMEBUILDING

previous
  • 12 Remodeling Secrets
    12 Remodeling Secrets
  • 2014 HOUSES Awards
    2014 HOUSES Awards
  • Clever daily tip in your inbox
    Clever daily tip in your inbox
  • The Hobbit House and More
    The Hobbit House and More
  • Outdoor Kitchen Inspiration
    Outdoor Kitchen Inspiration
  • 2013 HOUSES Awards
    2013 HOUSES Awards
  • Basement Remodeling Tips
    Basement Remodeling Tips
  • 15 Coffered-Ceiling Ideas
    15 Coffered-Ceiling Ideas
  • All about Roofing
    All about Roofing
  • 9 Concrete Countertops Ideas
    9 Concrete Countertops Ideas
  • Read FHB on Your iPad
    Read FHB on Your iPad
  • What’s the best decking?
    What’s the best decking?
  • 7 Small Bathroom Layouts
    7 Small Bathroom Layouts
  • 7 Smart Kitchen Solutions
    7 Smart Kitchen Solutions
  • Remodeling in Action
    Remodeling in Action
next
Theres a Better Way


How To Save a Miscut Board From the Scrap Bin

comments (40) April 1st, 2012
grateful.ed Chuck Miller, editor at large

Video Length: 3:39
Produced by: John Ross

Add CommentAdd Comment
PrintPrint

April Fools!

"Measure twice, cut once" no longer applies after you learn this slick new trick. Editor-at-large Chuck Miller has found a fast and easy way to save a short board from the scrap bin in this episode of There's a Better Way.

 

Watch more video tips:

Make a Custom Holesaw to Remove Stripped Screws

Plane Doors More Easily with a Shopmade Jig

Keep Your Truck Tailgate Clear with a Simple Gravel Shield

 

 

 

posted in: lumber
Add CommentAdd Comment PrintPrint
Back to List

Comments (40)

Pete_Z Pete_Z writes: Telling the new guy to run and get the "board stretcher" from my truck now has a new application. Tell him to run and get the gallon of "board stretcher potion" from the truck!
Posted: 7:20 pm on January 14th

woodworker4jesus woodworker4jesus writes: no body took into fact that 20% of 4 feet is 9 5/8" light
Posted: 12:55 pm on April 24th

Benjamin1988 Benjamin1988 writes: Yes this was a great tip

BENJAMIN RAUCHER
Posted: 6:07 pm on April 21st

woodworker4jesus woodworker4jesus writes: I used this stuff once and it does work .you should where gloves when using this product.I got some on my fingers went to pick up a 5 gallon pail of paint now my fingers are longer on one hand than the other
Posted: 9:01 am on April 12th

woodworker4jesus woodworker4jesus writes: I used this stuff once and it does work .you should where gloves when using this product.I got some on my fingers went to pick up a 5 gallon pail of paint now my fingers are longer on one hand than the other
Posted: 9:01 am on April 12th

KHWillets KHWillets writes: If you look closely, you'll see that it's a knot remover too!

I wonder if this would work for misdrilled holes. I had to return my reversible drill because the reversing feature didn't work -- the hole was still there.
Posted: 2:40 pm on April 5th

maineuropa maineuropa writes: Chuck, did you try this out on any human body parts too?
Posted: 2:15 pm on April 4th

grateful.ed grateful.ed writes: Thanks for all your comments folks. You've got me LOL too. Grecci, the vest is by Occidental. Here's a link:
http://bestbelt.com/product/belt-free/2585_beltless.html
cheers,
Chuck
Posted: 11:01 am on April 4th

mbole mbole writes: Guys look at the date of video (April the 1st)
Posted: 7:17 am on April 4th

hochbob hochbob writes: Much easier to cut new wood than to go through this laborious and messy process.
Posted: 8:05 pm on April 3rd

Grecci Grecci writes: Chuck, you crack me up! Such a serious presentation!
But what really got my attention was your vest; where did you get it?
Posted: 5:52 pm on April 3rd

rnadeau77 rnadeau77 writes: Too funny.
Posted: 8:05 am on April 3rd

sirlezz sirlezz writes: Well done fooled me big time
I went and googled it before I woke up it was April Fool's Day
Fantastic fun and excellent delivery
want it to work on my wallet in the future
Love your work

Les
Posted: 6:56 am on April 3rd

IJL2 IJL2 writes: This sounds like a bacon stretcher?
Posted: 9:59 pm on April 2nd

IJL2 IJL2 writes: I listened with interest about the "Measure twice, cut once" opportunity. Not 1 hour later I was cutting some dimenisional lumber when I, unfortunately cut one short. I went to Home Depot and bought a galon of this product and laid it on thick. Because it was 4 X 8 material I let it sit longer than in the video. It worked! However it bowed, guess it will take longer in the future.
Posted: 9:54 pm on April 2nd

57006 57006 writes: Could April 1 have anything to do with the video?
Posted: 9:43 pm on April 2nd

BGodfrey BGodfrey writes: Do they make a formulation for granite?
Posted: 8:17 pm on April 2nd

swingman swingman writes: Too bad, sounds like an AFD joke, but couldn't get it to play. It so happens that if the browser addon "Do Not Track" is enabled for FHB's website (of which I am a paid member) FHB won't allow their videos to play. Disable the addon, no problem.

I can understand the necessity of an ad revenue stream to keep things going, but apparently it's screw you if you prefer not to have your every move tracked, even though you have already paid for the privilege of viewing the content.

Keep this up, Fine Homebuilding Magazine, and there will not be a next time ... at least from this quarter.

FWIW, the following 13 tracking entities track every single visit _you_ make to the video url:

Comscore Beacon Blocked
ShareThis Blocked
Brightcove Blocked
Google Adsense Blocked
Quantcast Blocked
Netratings Site Census Blocked
Doubleclick Blocked
Google Analytics
Google +1 Blocked
Facebook Connect
Quantcast
Nielson
Dedicated Networks
Posted: 7:26 pm on April 2nd

Fonzie777 Fonzie777 writes: I needed that last Thursday. Since I didn't know I had to settle for 2 p 10 which was ok but unfortunately showed a glue joint.
Posted: 6:49 pm on April 2nd

VinceR VinceR writes: This is clearly a hoax! The elastomeric compound was applied only to the top of the board. Therefore, only the top would stretch. Therefore, when released, the board would assume a bow shape (the top is longer than the bottom).

That didn't happen. Therefore, a hoax.

Unless, of course, the bottom side was precoated to save filing time.

Therefore, maybe it does work.

Therefore, my judgement may have been premature.

VinceR
Oakhurst, NJ
Posted: 6:05 pm on April 2nd

atulniya atulniya writes: Topic- "Make a long thin drill bit for snaking small wires."
I wanted to drill a whole for normal size wire in 4" thick brick wall. I did not have such a long bit. I took an iron rod 12" long & a little thicker than a pencil having spiral threads on it. I made one end of it sharp with grinding stone. On the tip I made spiral lines with haksaw blade. 1st I made a thick hole in the wall with a normal bit used for making holes in wall. then i changed the bit with the rod I made I drilled. The hole came all through the wall.
Sunkersett.
Posted: 2:48 pm on April 2nd

Lauraellene Lauraellene writes: I love these but am still a greenie. What is the tool you are pumping to stretch the board? How do you set it up? Doesn't this weaken the properties of a board? I don't think I'd like a house built that had 10' ceilings because all the studs were stretched 8'ers.
Posted: 1:43 pm on April 2nd

Brent_S Brent_S writes: You mean I can't use my favorite line anymore ? "I cut it twice and it's still too short "
Posted: 11:34 am on April 2nd

boisfranc boisfranc writes: But you didn't cover the problem with springback. I tried this product and it worked just fine, and managed to stretch a board a full 20%. However, it shrunk again overnight by about 10%, so that now my board is not long enough to use as a 5 foot piece, and it is too long to use as a 4 foot piece. I really don't know what to do next...
Posted: 10:00 am on April 2nd

Rob01085 Rob01085 writes: This has to be an April Fool's Joke.
Posted: 9:53 am on April 2nd

Jencar Jencar writes: April Fools! Better than my husband telling me that he got a job across the country and we're moving!...Even if it were possible, would be cheaper just to buy a new piece of wood(unless it's from some rare tree in the middle of the Congo that's illegal to import anyway)Looks like wallpaper paste. Don't buy any used cars from Chuck!! :)
Posted: 8:10 am on April 2nd

MeHude MeHude writes: At 5'3", I'm taking a bath in this stuff tonight to become the height of my dreams!
Posted: 7:58 am on April 2nd

bill117 bill117 writes: Does it only work on wood? ;)
Posted: 7:46 am on April 2nd

jvjames jvjames writes: Do you know the release date for Miller's Board Stretcher II which I hear will also work across the grain. I am hoping this will work as well as the original product so I can utilize on plywood.
Posted: 7:38 am on April 2nd

HandMadeByRock HandMadeByRock writes: The board stretcher is good, but the hammer nail set is terrific! I've gotten so good now I can pick mosquitoes out of the air and 'nail' them to a board with one swing.
Posted: 7:30 am on April 2nd

GeorgeH3 GeorgeH3 writes: Would I be able to paint that around my 1-story shed and then use jacks on the inside to press the roof up to create a 1 1/2 story shed? I'm too lazy to take the roof apart to add the additional space...

Great video though...science has come so far!
Posted: 6:12 am on April 2nd

LocalHero LocalHero writes: You clearly state that the board stretcher (we prefer the Dumbfix brand)will allow up to 20% increase in length but you increased that board 25%. That's a code violation...
Posted: 5:39 am on April 2nd

martial martial writes: LOL!!!
Posted: 5:35 am on April 2nd

bapryde bapryde writes: I've also used this product to stop those squeeks
you get from worn muffler bearings. Works great!
Posted: 4:03 am on April 2nd

oscar_mann oscar_mann writes: I found this stuff at my local home center.. Right next to the plaid paint
Posted: 2:59 am on April 2nd

TheTimberTailor TheTimberTailor writes: Chuck,

Its great to see you promote such a fantastic product.

The best part is that the stuff is inexpensive and available in 55 gallon drums. I've been using it for years to save money. I just buy 8' two by fours when I need 10 footers. Just slosh a couple buckets on a bunk of them at the end of the day, cover it with a tarp overnight and the next morning, I've got all the 10 footers I need.

Truly fantastic stuff indeed!


Posted: 11:08 pm on April 1st

SherryD34 SherryD34 writes: I can see that the wire on the come along isn't taunt while you were "stretching" the board. I'm impressed that you could do this with a straight face, though!

Chuck, you might be able to fool the guys but not this lady!

Sherry again
Posted: 9:21 pm on April 1st

SherryD34 SherryD34 writes: Nice April Fools's Chuck!

Sherry
Posted: 9:12 pm on April 1st

Skyhammer Skyhammer writes: But doesn't that make the board thinner? The extra length has to come from somewhere. And I remember a similar product, some years ago, by a Norwegian inventor named Loof Lirpa. Anybody remember him?
Posted: 12:30 pm on April 1st

Cragganmore Cragganmore writes: Now THAT is amazing. Just think of how much lumber that will save! Where can I get some?

Augusto Uno
Saskatoon

Posted: 12:03 pm on April 1st

You must be logged in to post comments. Log in.