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There’s a Better Way

Do have your own better way to tackle a construction task? If so, we’d love to see it and even pay you for it if we decide to use it in print.  Email photos and a description to us at [email protected], or use the #FineHomebuildingTips hashtag on Instagram.

  • Make a Handy Sanding Block with a Belt-Sander Belt

    Tip master Chuck Miller has found yet another way to avoid struggling with a sheet of sandpaper loosely wrapped around a scrap of wood.

  • Make Your Own Simple Sanding Blocks

    Master carpenter Mike Belzowski demonstrates his efficient method for making batches of different-grit sanding blocks out of scraps of MDF and sheets of sandpaper he has laying around the shop.

  • How to Keep Power Cord Plugs Tight and Dry

    If you're working with power tools on a wet, rainy job site, you could take the chance that your extension cord won't trip a breaker when it slips into a…

  • Use a Reciprocating-Saw Blade to Mark Circular Holes

    If you need to cut a round hole in a ceiling for a light fixture but you don't have a compass, you could just hack away at the drywall until…

  • How to Safely and Easily Cut Shims from Scrap Wood

    Don't waste your money on a bundle of shingles if all you need are some shims for a framing project. Use this simple jig to cut your own shims on…

  • How to Clean Fuzz Off of a New Paint Roller

    Use painter's tape in an ingenious way to make any roller lint-free.

  • Build a Foolproof Jig For Cutting Laminate Countertops

    If you're cutting a postform laminate countertop in the field, you could try freehanding the awkward cuts and hope you don't screw it up, but there's a better way.  

  • How to Lay Out an Accurate Ellipse with a Stick, Two Nails, and a Pencil

    If you need to make an elliptical backing for a cove or arch, you could look at the 15 ways Wikipedia shows how to do it and risk your head…

  • A Better Way to Fold a Tarp or Drop Cloth

    Chuck Miller demonstrates why folding your tarp like a flag is not the most convenient way to stow it. Learn this old trick from the theater industry and save time…

  • Hold Your Sharpening Stone Steady on the Job Site

    If you're on the job and need a super-sharp chisel, you could hope that your stone doesn't slide around while you're trying to work on that edge, but there's a…

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Fine Homebuilding Magazine

  • Issue 332 - July 2025
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