Issue 273 – Feb/Mar 2018
Features
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Easy, Elegant Mantel
Build a fireplace surround from one sheet of MDF and some stock moldings.
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Scribing Made Simple
Learn and practice the basic techniques, then move up to the more difficult versions.
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Master Class in Moldings
An illustrated guide to the profiles and proper proportions of baseboard, crown, and casing.
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Make the Most of Moldings
A look at the role of baseboard, casing, crown, and other moldings in today’s homes
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Restore a Wood Window Sash
When repairs are in order, a steam box, an easel, and two-part epoxy are your best friends.
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How to Protect a Window Opening During Sash Restoration
If you don't have storms, you'll need to close off the windows while repairing the sash. Here's an easy and secure system.
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How to Glaze a Wood Window
Follow this process for a smooth, watertight seal when adding new putty around panes in an old wood sash.
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Use a Steam Box for Window Restoration
To soften glazing and remove the glass from an old window, a homemade steam box is priceless.
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Installing a Wall-Hung Toilet
These fixtures save space and make your bathroom easier to clean, but installation demands a different workflow.
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How to Install a Wall-Hung Toilet
Remodeler Andrew Grace explains the ins and outs of installing a wall-hung toilet.
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A Better Wall for Production Builders
Designing a better wall system isn’t particularly hard. Designing one with a chance of being accepted by production builders, on the other hand, has proven difficult...and that’s a problem.
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Flawless Wiped Finish
For great results with wipe-on polyurethane, you have to go beyond the instructions on the back of the can.
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Secret to a Fast, Flawless Finish
Use this method of sanding and applying polyurethane to create a furniture finish that's smooth as glass.
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Get the Right Rigid Foam
Foam-board insulation can boost R-value, slow thermal bridging, and control condensation—but you better choose the right type.
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Choosing the Right Thickness of Exterior Foam
Rigid foam must be thick enough to prevent condensation on the roof sheathing.
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The Secret to the ZipWall System
Improving the self-adhesive zipper opening.
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Should Your Next Dryer Be Ventless?
Condenser dryers don’t make sense for every house, but are a great solution when venting isn’t an option.
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Magnificent Mountain Cabin
Designed to tread lightly on the land and with minimal amenities, this family retreat is still built to last.
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A Luxury Lean-To
A challenging site and complex design give way to easy outdoor living.
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Crash Course in Conduit
An electrician shares the basics of bending, fastening, and connecting electrical metallic tubing.
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Video Series: Electrical Retrofit With Surface-Mounted Conduit
Electrical metallic tubing provides an easy way add boxes without opening walls.
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Electrical Retrofit — Working with Old Wires
Start clean and work safe when expanding off of existing circuits.
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Surface-Mount Electrical Box and Conduit Layout
Installing electrical boxes plumb and level, and carefully laying out and measuring bend locations for conduit, makes for clean installations.
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How to Bend and Mount EMT Conduit
Making bends with a manual EMT bender requires a little math and measuring for consistent results.
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EMT Conduit — Run Wires and Install Devices
If you’ve only worked with flush-mount electrical boxes, surface-mount boxes may hold some surprises.
Article
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In Praise of Carpenters
At a time when fewer and fewer humans make anything of physical value, carpenters engage in a profoundly creative process.
Commentary
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Cordless Saw Fit For a Framer
Makita's XSR01 cordless, rear-handle, blade-left circular saw is an excellent full-time framing saw.
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Perfect Pencil Sharpener
Tool Review: Kum Long Point Pencil Sharpener is a definite step up from a standard sharpener.
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Soffit-Vent Solution
This polypropylene vent has a smooth shape for maximum airflow, and it is installed at the same time as the fan.
Tools & Materials
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Project Gallery: Walk-Ins That Wow
These inspirational examples of well-designed closets offer remarkable features for every need.
Project Gallery
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10 Common Mistakes Made by New Home Builders
Getting these framing, insulation, air-sealing, and mechanical details right could make your home more comfortable and more affordable to live in.
Musings of an Energy Nerd
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Fireplace Surrounds
Design/Build: These mantels illustrate not only the range of independent design options, but also the plug-and-play aspect of fireplace-surround composition.
Design/Build
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Cutting and Joining Plastic Pipe
9 steps to install quiet, well-connected ABS and PVC piping.
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The Right Way to Join Plastic Pipe
Both PVC and ABS plastic pipe are so easy to work with that they're often slapped together without much thought. Are you sure you're joining them correctly?
Building Skills
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Keep Craft Alive: Ben Brunick, Woodworker
“If you can make a board flat, straight, and square, you can do just about anything.”
