I finally have the hand railing ebook finished and live. If you are planning to build a hand railing this book is a must and will answer any questions you may have. Here is the link to the page where you can pick up the ebook and download it instantly:
finishcarpentryhelp.com/Build-Your-Own-Handrail.html
Here is a little about the ebook:
This e-book describes in detail all the parts of a handrail and an extensive step by step process of building A handrailing with diagrams and pictures.
This book will be a fraction of the cost compared to hiring a contractor to build it. This book will give even the most inexperienced person the ability to understand and build their own handrail.
Also in this book I will explain all the tools necessary to build one and also give you the tool brands I use.
* This handrail eBook will guide you through the process step by step.
* Discover the formula for installing skirt boards.
* Learn the formula for spindle or balluster spacing.
* A list of the tools needed for the job and the brands of tools I use.
* Go from mounting the newell posts to the finished product.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
A Good Article
6 Power Tools Every Woman Should Have in Her Arsenal
Author: Heidi Baker
The ultimate do-it-herselfer, Heidi of BeJane.com demystifies the most important power tools used in home improvement.
“Power tools level the playing field between men and women when it comes to doing home improvement.”
I discovered power tools after I bought my first home and decided to take on the task of home improvement myself. Now, I can do anything that the biggest, burliest contractor can do if you give me the right power tools. It makes me just as strong, I can accomplish the same thing, and I love the feeling of empowerment it gives me. It’s so much fun.
“When I first started with tools, I was surprised at how similar some of the power tools were to things I use in the kitchen and office.”
A power tool set is like a shoe wardrobe. You can always justify adding to it. But I can tell you the six tools that every woman needs to begin making home improvements on her own.
1. The Power Drill
The drill is like the little black dress of power tools. You’ll always need one and as long as it’s a nice one, it’ll get the job done – whether it’s putting on new doorknobs on your kitchen cabinets or putting up curtains or installing floating shelves. And, like the little black dress, you’ll always find a reason to buy another one. I own 5 – from 9 volts all the way to 21!
My introduction to the drill came when I worked on my kitchen cabinets. After sanding, repainting and adding molding to the cabinets, I made holes with my drill and used it to attach new knobs. It was a little intimidating – it is shaped like a gun, you know – but after one hole, I was using it like an old pro.
2. The Power Sander
A lot of women are really into refinishing furniture, but you can’t get started without a sander. You do not want to sand by hand if you don’t have to. It’s just not worth it.
I use an orbital sander, which works really fast and moves in circles. Because it creates a lot of dust, I recommend wearing face and eye protection and sanding outside, if you can. Also, sawdust fries your hair by pulling all of the oils out of it, so if you still want to look like a girl after the project’s done, protect yourself!
3. The Reciprocating Saw
This tool still scares me because you can cut through some pretty major stuff with it, like studs, wallboard and paneling. But if you really think about it, it’s just like a carving knife. If you’ve carved a turkey, you can use a reciprocating saw. The saw shakes a little more than the turkey carver, but it’s just about the same thing.
You’re not going to let a little uncertainty about a carving knife scare you into carving it by hand, so why would you use a regular saw to cut through a wall when you can use a power tool for it?
4. The Power Stapler
I’m meeting more and more women who are interested in upholstering—myself included. I especially love upholstered headboards, which can cost anywhere from $1000 to $1500 if you buy them in the stores. With a power stapler and some supplies in tow, I can make my own for around $100.
What’s great about a power stapler is that it sinks the staples deeper than you’re going to be able to do it by hand, and it will enable you to have more cushion on whatever you’re upholstering. When you use a manual stapler or even a staple gun, your hand starts hurting pretty quickly and the staples never go in the right way.
5. The Power Nailer
With the power nailer, there’s no fear of getting a black thumbnail from hammering. On top of that, it makes your project go much faster—and it’s so much fun.
The first time I put up crown molding, I used a regular hammer and nails. The second time, I used one of these puppies. I did it in a third of the time, and it came out gorgeous. Also, because it sinks the nails in deeper, they are easier to hide.
6. The Compound Miter Saw
This compound miter saw is my favorite tool. It’s a little scary looking, but believe it or not, this is the safest saw that there is because it tells you where not to put your hands. There’s also a safety cover that protects the blade until you come down.
A compound miter saw is really the thing that helps you finish off a room. With it, you can create all the extra added touches like crown molding, baseboard molding and chair rail molding.
There are many other useful tools out there, but these are my favorites. Remember, it’s normal to be a little intimidated by these loud, scary-looking tools. When I first started doing home improvement, the only tool I’d ever used was my garbage disposal. But trust me, once you start figuring out what you’re capable of, you’ll want to push yourself more and more. And soon you’ll be ready to take on any project!
More at http://capessa.com/members/storyactions.aspx?g=126789&m=85406
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/diy-articles/6-power-tools-every-woman-should-have-in-her-arsenal-386193.html
About the Author:The ultimate do-it-herselfer, Heidi of BeJane.com demystifies the most important power tools used in home improvement.
Author: Heidi Baker
The ultimate do-it-herselfer, Heidi of BeJane.com demystifies the most important power tools used in home improvement.
“Power tools level the playing field between men and women when it comes to doing home improvement.”
I discovered power tools after I bought my first home and decided to take on the task of home improvement myself. Now, I can do anything that the biggest, burliest contractor can do if you give me the right power tools. It makes me just as strong, I can accomplish the same thing, and I love the feeling of empowerment it gives me. It’s so much fun.
“When I first started with tools, I was surprised at how similar some of the power tools were to things I use in the kitchen and office.”
A power tool set is like a shoe wardrobe. You can always justify adding to it. But I can tell you the six tools that every woman needs to begin making home improvements on her own.
1. The Power Drill
The drill is like the little black dress of power tools. You’ll always need one and as long as it’s a nice one, it’ll get the job done – whether it’s putting on new doorknobs on your kitchen cabinets or putting up curtains or installing floating shelves. And, like the little black dress, you’ll always find a reason to buy another one. I own 5 – from 9 volts all the way to 21!
My introduction to the drill came when I worked on my kitchen cabinets. After sanding, repainting and adding molding to the cabinets, I made holes with my drill and used it to attach new knobs. It was a little intimidating – it is shaped like a gun, you know – but after one hole, I was using it like an old pro.
2. The Power Sander
A lot of women are really into refinishing furniture, but you can’t get started without a sander. You do not want to sand by hand if you don’t have to. It’s just not worth it.
I use an orbital sander, which works really fast and moves in circles. Because it creates a lot of dust, I recommend wearing face and eye protection and sanding outside, if you can. Also, sawdust fries your hair by pulling all of the oils out of it, so if you still want to look like a girl after the project’s done, protect yourself!
3. The Reciprocating Saw
This tool still scares me because you can cut through some pretty major stuff with it, like studs, wallboard and paneling. But if you really think about it, it’s just like a carving knife. If you’ve carved a turkey, you can use a reciprocating saw. The saw shakes a little more than the turkey carver, but it’s just about the same thing.
You’re not going to let a little uncertainty about a carving knife scare you into carving it by hand, so why would you use a regular saw to cut through a wall when you can use a power tool for it?
4. The Power Stapler
I’m meeting more and more women who are interested in upholstering—myself included. I especially love upholstered headboards, which can cost anywhere from $1000 to $1500 if you buy them in the stores. With a power stapler and some supplies in tow, I can make my own for around $100.
What’s great about a power stapler is that it sinks the staples deeper than you’re going to be able to do it by hand, and it will enable you to have more cushion on whatever you’re upholstering. When you use a manual stapler or even a staple gun, your hand starts hurting pretty quickly and the staples never go in the right way.
5. The Power Nailer
With the power nailer, there’s no fear of getting a black thumbnail from hammering. On top of that, it makes your project go much faster—and it’s so much fun.
The first time I put up crown molding, I used a regular hammer and nails. The second time, I used one of these puppies. I did it in a third of the time, and it came out gorgeous. Also, because it sinks the nails in deeper, they are easier to hide.
6. The Compound Miter Saw
This compound miter saw is my favorite tool. It’s a little scary looking, but believe it or not, this is the safest saw that there is because it tells you where not to put your hands. There’s also a safety cover that protects the blade until you come down.
A compound miter saw is really the thing that helps you finish off a room. With it, you can create all the extra added touches like crown molding, baseboard molding and chair rail molding.
There are many other useful tools out there, but these are my favorites. Remember, it’s normal to be a little intimidated by these loud, scary-looking tools. When I first started doing home improvement, the only tool I’d ever used was my garbage disposal. But trust me, once you start figuring out what you’re capable of, you’ll want to push yourself more and more. And soon you’ll be ready to take on any project!
More at http://capessa.com/members/storyactions.aspx?g=126789&m=85406
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/diy-articles/6-power-tools-every-woman-should-have-in-her-arsenal-386193.html
About the Author:The ultimate do-it-herselfer, Heidi of BeJane.com demystifies the most important power tools used in home improvement.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
You Don't Have to Be a Craftsman to Work With Wood
Commonly we think that working with wood is a fruitless task because only adult and experienced carpenter can make things with wood. This is false since it has to commence somewhere and even the maestros had to start with simple woodworking undertakings. While none of us a reborn with woodworking skills and you learn the art only through studying, you ought to remember several things which are needed when starting with easy woodworking projects.
It's amazing what you can do with just basic woodworking tools so before you throw yourself into this new spare-time activity, try to gather as much facts as you can. Discover about the tools and the practices, starting from the medieval times to the most modern and get familiar with every aspect of this art. Your biggest assistance in doing elementary woodworking undertakings is the knowledge about the several types of woods and their uses, and you are lucky, since a host of facts about these things is readily available. You can use books and journals to find hints and ideas and you can use the Internet where there are many websites that help beginners with carpentry.
If you want to get going on some elementary woodworking tasks, sign up for some instructional classes with many local community colleges running beginner classes for mature apprentices which are not expensive or overly time consuming. The studying from these courses could acquaint you with several woodwork approaches and methods starting from the fundamentals to the expert level. These classes also tutor you involving the safety aspects of woodworking, so that your easy woodworking tasks do not result in any untoward incident whereby you discard the pursuit fearing another accident in the future.
When you feel ready to commence working on your own undertaking, try to keep it simple at first, like a undertaking that only requires hand tools. There are also kits available with pre-cut and appropriately sized wood pieces that just require you to put the object together. This coaches you to get to know the pieces better and how various pieces are assembled without having to use any intricate machinery. When starting to handle tools and machinery, the best option is to start easy and small. It is a good idea to start tinkering with a few hand tools and once you are completely confident of using them, increase your tool kit with new items but ensure that all of these tools are the best quality. After you have gathered enough confidence, you could aim to move up and handle more advanced tasks, but whichever level you are working on, keep safety in mind.
Several things have to be borne in mind when starting a easy woodworking project. You will be surprised to see what kind of creative things that can be made with elementary woodwork tools as you step by step develop your skill and expertise. If you're serious about your new pursuit, get as much facts before you start out and if you are interested, you can even research about the medieval carpentry tools and modern tools to familiarize yourself with them.
Steve Millerman is a specialist in woodworking. If you want more information about woodworking, visit guide-to-woodworking.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_Millerman
It's amazing what you can do with just basic woodworking tools so before you throw yourself into this new spare-time activity, try to gather as much facts as you can. Discover about the tools and the practices, starting from the medieval times to the most modern and get familiar with every aspect of this art. Your biggest assistance in doing elementary woodworking undertakings is the knowledge about the several types of woods and their uses, and you are lucky, since a host of facts about these things is readily available. You can use books and journals to find hints and ideas and you can use the Internet where there are many websites that help beginners with carpentry.
If you want to get going on some elementary woodworking tasks, sign up for some instructional classes with many local community colleges running beginner classes for mature apprentices which are not expensive or overly time consuming. The studying from these courses could acquaint you with several woodwork approaches and methods starting from the fundamentals to the expert level. These classes also tutor you involving the safety aspects of woodworking, so that your easy woodworking tasks do not result in any untoward incident whereby you discard the pursuit fearing another accident in the future.
When you feel ready to commence working on your own undertaking, try to keep it simple at first, like a undertaking that only requires hand tools. There are also kits available with pre-cut and appropriately sized wood pieces that just require you to put the object together. This coaches you to get to know the pieces better and how various pieces are assembled without having to use any intricate machinery. When starting to handle tools and machinery, the best option is to start easy and small. It is a good idea to start tinkering with a few hand tools and once you are completely confident of using them, increase your tool kit with new items but ensure that all of these tools are the best quality. After you have gathered enough confidence, you could aim to move up and handle more advanced tasks, but whichever level you are working on, keep safety in mind.
Several things have to be borne in mind when starting a easy woodworking project. You will be surprised to see what kind of creative things that can be made with elementary woodwork tools as you step by step develop your skill and expertise. If you're serious about your new pursuit, get as much facts before you start out and if you are interested, you can even research about the medieval carpentry tools and modern tools to familiarize yourself with them.
Steve Millerman is a specialist in woodworking. If you want more information about woodworking, visit guide-to-woodworking.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_Millerman
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Finish Carpentry Choices
Finish carpentry refers to the installation of the decorative wood around doors, windows and base board. This also includes much more such as hand railings, cabinets, stair cases, crown molding, chair rail and can include even more depending on the wood finishing’s in the home, office or business. There are many choices when it comes to choosing this trim wood. Let’s look at some of these choices.
Sometimes this trim wood is referred to as molding. This decorative trim wood or moldings come in many types of wood and is not limited to any type of wood. Some of the most common are oak, maple, birch, mahogany, cherry, pine, hickory, walnut and so on. These moldings can also be made of man made materials like high-density polymers. This trim wood or moldings can also be purchased in raw form or even prefinished form.
This trim wood comes in a wide variety of styles also. Some of the most common styles include ranch style, colonial style, Princeton style (which is close to colonial), Victorian style and so on. You could even create your own style. Some places you may see a home made style is in cabins or lake homes. One thing to keep in mind when choosing your style and this is just a suggestion is to stick with one style throughout for conformity although not necessary.
These different styles also come in different sizes. Some times in the older Victorian houses the trim wood is quite big. For example, let's say baseboard is commonly around 3" in height (at least in a lot of the newer homes) and in the older Victorian homes it can be as tall as 6" or more in height. This applies to the door and window trim also in these older homes, they liked it big. They not only liked it big but also very decorative.
One of the next choices would be how this trim wood is to be finished. By this I mean the color of the stain or if it would be painted. If the trim wood is painted you would not need to go with the more expensive hard woods for your trim. Paint grade trim can be for example pine and is much less expensive and going this route of painted trim would cost considerably less especially if you are doing the painting on your own.
So with all of these choices regarding finish carpentry no matter what is chosen it serves a number of functionalities, adds beauty, and you will have your own distinctive style.
After all the decisions, the installation process is next. If you elect to do your own finish carpentry I have found it to be very very rewarding work how ever it does take a little practice and patience. If you have access to all the right tools for the job and the time, it is well worth doing it yourself and saving yourself a bundle of money. There are plenty of instructions and a lot of good information with tips and tricks on the web to be able to pick up this unique craft without too much trouble without having to be an actual carpenter.
Pat Fisher is a professional carpenter and woodworking craftsman. For more information on finish carpentry and household carpentry projects, visit www.finishcarpentryhelp.com and pick up your free eBook.
Sometimes this trim wood is referred to as molding. This decorative trim wood or moldings come in many types of wood and is not limited to any type of wood. Some of the most common are oak, maple, birch, mahogany, cherry, pine, hickory, walnut and so on. These moldings can also be made of man made materials like high-density polymers. This trim wood or moldings can also be purchased in raw form or even prefinished form.
This trim wood comes in a wide variety of styles also. Some of the most common styles include ranch style, colonial style, Princeton style (which is close to colonial), Victorian style and so on. You could even create your own style. Some places you may see a home made style is in cabins or lake homes. One thing to keep in mind when choosing your style and this is just a suggestion is to stick with one style throughout for conformity although not necessary.
These different styles also come in different sizes. Some times in the older Victorian houses the trim wood is quite big. For example, let's say baseboard is commonly around 3" in height (at least in a lot of the newer homes) and in the older Victorian homes it can be as tall as 6" or more in height. This applies to the door and window trim also in these older homes, they liked it big. They not only liked it big but also very decorative.
One of the next choices would be how this trim wood is to be finished. By this I mean the color of the stain or if it would be painted. If the trim wood is painted you would not need to go with the more expensive hard woods for your trim. Paint grade trim can be for example pine and is much less expensive and going this route of painted trim would cost considerably less especially if you are doing the painting on your own.
So with all of these choices regarding finish carpentry no matter what is chosen it serves a number of functionalities, adds beauty, and you will have your own distinctive style.
After all the decisions, the installation process is next. If you elect to do your own finish carpentry I have found it to be very very rewarding work how ever it does take a little practice and patience. If you have access to all the right tools for the job and the time, it is well worth doing it yourself and saving yourself a bundle of money. There are plenty of instructions and a lot of good information with tips and tricks on the web to be able to pick up this unique craft without too much trouble without having to be an actual carpenter.
Pat Fisher is a professional carpenter and woodworking craftsman. For more information on finish carpentry and household carpentry projects, visit www.finishcarpentryhelp.com and pick up your free eBook.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Understanding Wood Shrinkage in Finish Carpentry
These days trim wood shrinkage in finish carpentry does cause some problems and has tested the reputation of even the most seasoned finish carpenters. This can be controlled some what if it is properly addressed however the shear speed at which houses get built and the use of new growth lumber these days poses a lot of the problems that are unfortunately some times unavoidable.
Trim wood should be acclimated to the inside environment of the house where it will be installed. This does also apply to the wood of a new wood floor to be installed. What this means exactly is the wood needs time to adjust to the temperature and humidity levels of the house where it will be installed. This in turn reduces the shrinkage of the wood and that helps to keep miters tight and doors working properly. There is much discussion on how long this acclimation period should be and a few variables do come into play here especially with a newly built home. A very minimum of an acclimation period would be 48 hrs. if the environment change of the storage place of the trim wood or the store to the house environment is not a huge difference. Another factor is after the acclimation period it is best to get the wood finished and sealed whether you do it before or after installation.
Ultimately wood is going to shrink and swell according to the seasons. Some places more than others due to the climate differences. The best way to reduce this is to try and keep the environment in the house relatively even with just the temperature although I have seen a new house with new trim work sitting empty with no activity like cooking or showering for a long period of time have major shrinkage in the trim wood due to no humidity. I had trimmed this house and was just sick when I went back for the final; fortunately the builder that I had done the work for understood this problem and took full responsibility. I had been in the finish carpentry business for a long time and had a good reputation of doing good work but some times that reputation doesn’t mean anything to the people that don’t understand these problems.
For the do it yourselfers doing trim work, there are a few things to consider. If you are remodeling or doing renovations to an existing home just simply taking the precautionary measure of acclimating the wood will eliminate the major shrinkage problem in most cases. On new homes it is however nice to know the humidity levels in the house as well as the wood. One easy way to check the wood is with a moisture meter tester. This little meter is relatively cheap or can be borrowed from a contractor that does building or remodeling. The use of a dehumidifier is recommended in a new house or new construction and doing a little research for the moisture content that is recommended for the area that you live in is also advisable. This is due to the different climates in the country and various temperature changes for the different areas. As a finish carpenter it is important for people to understand some of these issues concerned with wood shrinkage whether you are doing the work yourself or hiring a professional to do the work for you ultimately to protect yourself.
Trim wood should be acclimated to the inside environment of the house where it will be installed. This does also apply to the wood of a new wood floor to be installed. What this means exactly is the wood needs time to adjust to the temperature and humidity levels of the house where it will be installed. This in turn reduces the shrinkage of the wood and that helps to keep miters tight and doors working properly. There is much discussion on how long this acclimation period should be and a few variables do come into play here especially with a newly built home. A very minimum of an acclimation period would be 48 hrs. if the environment change of the storage place of the trim wood or the store to the house environment is not a huge difference. Another factor is after the acclimation period it is best to get the wood finished and sealed whether you do it before or after installation.
Ultimately wood is going to shrink and swell according to the seasons. Some places more than others due to the climate differences. The best way to reduce this is to try and keep the environment in the house relatively even with just the temperature although I have seen a new house with new trim work sitting empty with no activity like cooking or showering for a long period of time have major shrinkage in the trim wood due to no humidity. I had trimmed this house and was just sick when I went back for the final; fortunately the builder that I had done the work for understood this problem and took full responsibility. I had been in the finish carpentry business for a long time and had a good reputation of doing good work but some times that reputation doesn’t mean anything to the people that don’t understand these problems.
For the do it yourselfers doing trim work, there are a few things to consider. If you are remodeling or doing renovations to an existing home just simply taking the precautionary measure of acclimating the wood will eliminate the major shrinkage problem in most cases. On new homes it is however nice to know the humidity levels in the house as well as the wood. One easy way to check the wood is with a moisture meter tester. This little meter is relatively cheap or can be borrowed from a contractor that does building or remodeling. The use of a dehumidifier is recommended in a new house or new construction and doing a little research for the moisture content that is recommended for the area that you live in is also advisable. This is due to the different climates in the country and various temperature changes for the different areas. As a finish carpenter it is important for people to understand some of these issues concerned with wood shrinkage whether you are doing the work yourself or hiring a professional to do the work for you ultimately to protect yourself.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Do you really need a contractor for that home project?
Some things to consider, how big is the project and does it involve some different trades such as an electrician or a plumber? If so then yes it might be a good idea. A licensed contractor will have subcontractors who do these other trades and will be responsible for their work performance and quality. Another reason may be you don't have the time or just want the job done from start to finish without any hassles. A contractor will also do all the leg work for permits, inspections and keep the job going on a schedule. This does require doing some research on your part and finding a good quality contractor and even then you may end up with a bad experience.
Consider the project carefully. Have a clear vision of the job. I would venture to say most people are on a budget and do want some hands on approach. Hiring a contractor for the whole job often times is quite expensive and you may want to consider a different approach. This will be more work but also may come at a considerable lower cost.
One approach is as simple as talking to a good carpenter. A good carpenter not only can handle the whole building process but a lot of times have a good understanding for the permits and inspections necessary for the job. A carpenter however is generally not licensed or required to be licensed but as a sub contractor are required to carry certain liability insurance and work comp policies and certificates. Ask for some references from this carpenter and be sure to ask for proof of these certificates before hiring a carpenter for your project. Ultimately you are responsible for the building codes and regulations involved in the building process, however it is easily obtainable with a little research.
For the other trades needed for the project it could be as easy as looking in the yellow pages for a company that does this work. Again a little research on the company is advisable and if you are happy with the results then get on their schedule.
Your carpenter may also be able to suggest some people or companies for these trades and at a lower cost. Again check them out.
Is all of this research and responsibility worth it? From a financial stand point, yes it may be, from a time or headache stand point may be not, it depends on where you want your savings to be. There are vast amounts of information out there to answer your questions. Whether you hire a contractor or contract yourself, things don’t always go smoothly and unexpected things can happen. Be ready for potential problems and stay positive.
Consider the project carefully. Have a clear vision of the job. I would venture to say most people are on a budget and do want some hands on approach. Hiring a contractor for the whole job often times is quite expensive and you may want to consider a different approach. This will be more work but also may come at a considerable lower cost.
One approach is as simple as talking to a good carpenter. A good carpenter not only can handle the whole building process but a lot of times have a good understanding for the permits and inspections necessary for the job. A carpenter however is generally not licensed or required to be licensed but as a sub contractor are required to carry certain liability insurance and work comp policies and certificates. Ask for some references from this carpenter and be sure to ask for proof of these certificates before hiring a carpenter for your project. Ultimately you are responsible for the building codes and regulations involved in the building process, however it is easily obtainable with a little research.
For the other trades needed for the project it could be as easy as looking in the yellow pages for a company that does this work. Again a little research on the company is advisable and if you are happy with the results then get on their schedule.
Your carpenter may also be able to suggest some people or companies for these trades and at a lower cost. Again check them out.
Is all of this research and responsibility worth it? From a financial stand point, yes it may be, from a time or headache stand point may be not, it depends on where you want your savings to be. There are vast amounts of information out there to answer your questions. Whether you hire a contractor or contract yourself, things don’t always go smoothly and unexpected things can happen. Be ready for potential problems and stay positive.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
pictures
A while back I trimmed some offices. This trim job involves the use of some different styles of trim and the use of target blocks which I have not yet covered at www.finishcarpentryhelp.com. The Target blocks get installed at the top corners of the doors so no miters or 45 degree cuts need to be made and the casing gets installed up to these blocks with just straight cuts. Same for the windows, the blocks get installed at all the corners no mitering needed.The baseboard is of the large variety like you would see in the older homes. This bigger baseboard has to be cut in a little different manner then the more popular smaller baseboard which is covered at the web site. In the future I will be adding pages of instructions to the web site explaining how to cut and install some of these different styles of trim work, so stay tuned.
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Monday, October 20, 2008
articles
Me bad for neglecting my blog. I have been doing a lot of different things and the handrail eBook is almost finally ready to put up. Still working on the other eBooks and the store yet. Things just don't go as quick as I would like.
Here is an article I wrote and published at some of the article sites. It will work for people who are just starting to learn finish carpentry or for the experienced carpenters or for just about any field of work. Keep an eye on the site at http://www.finishcarpentryhelp.com/ for new things coming soon. Here is the article.
Getting the Mind Set for Finish Carpentry
Lots of people want and try to do their own finish carpentry. They begin with high hopes and good intentions. They buy books, watch videos, talk to professionals, and use the web for information only to end up with total aggravation.
Failure is often inevitable and they reluctantly end up giving up because their trim work doesn’t turn out as good as they expected. They then have to spend precious dollars to hire a professional finish carpenter to come in and finish and sometimes repair the job they have started.
Here are some good tips and general information to help get that professional looking trim work for your project and hopefully keep the aggravation at bay. You always pass failure on your way to success.
First, when doing finish carpentry work, your attitude and mood directly affects your performance and quality of the trim work. Some of the best finish carpenters have a difficult time doing quality work if they are upset or mad or depressed about something in their life. To prevent this, in the morning before you begin working, take a shower, eat breakfast, put on some new shoes, have a clear mind, be in a fantastic mood and you will be surprised at what you can accomplish. Focus is the key.
Having the right tools for the project is also a huge factor for quality. Poor tools can some times produce poor quality. Poor tools can fuel aggravation. So be sure to buy or borrow the best tools you can. Make sure the saws have sharp blades, keep your pencil sharp, your knife sharp and your mind sharp and your work will be sharp. Remember - success doesn’t come to you, you go to it.
Knowing how to use these tools safely and effectively is also a big factor. Practice a while with them before working with them if you are not familiar with them. Practice making some angle cuts that are involved with trim work. All the different joints and miters can be a bit of a challenge at first - so practice making miters or coping or doing outside corners before cutting and installing the actual pieces. Practice with the different trim pieces like the casing or baseboard or shoe or chair rail whatever the job entails. Practice makes perfect.
Another factor that can distract you is the environment you are working in. Interruptions like too many people around or in the way, interrupting phone calls, working where it is cold or hot or what ever the case, all of these should be addressed before you begin. Do your best to make it as comfortable as possible. When you get to your working area clean it up and do what you can to keep it clean and clutter free. Walking over wood scraps and cords and hoses is not only annoying but also dangerous.
I once tripped over a hose with my hands full and fell to the floor. I caught my self with one hand hitting the floor and fractured my wrist. The best part is that I am indestructible and that sort of thing never happens to me….Yea Right!
Your goal is to make it as comfortable and as safe as you can any way you can, given the situation. Even after taking all of these suggestions into consideration this work can still try your patience. There may be times when no matter how hard you try you can’t make something work. When this happens, take a break, clean up, or go start something different, chances are when you come back it will work.
Remember this, wisdom and experience doesn’t come without a little suffering and rarely do we experience success without practice. If you take the time to prepare both mentally and with your technique, you will end up with a finished project you can be proud of.
Pat Fisher is a professional carpenter and woodworking craftsman. For more information on finish carpentry and household carpentry projects, visit www.finishcarpentryhelp.com and pick up your free eBook.
Here is an article I wrote and published at some of the article sites. It will work for people who are just starting to learn finish carpentry or for the experienced carpenters or for just about any field of work. Keep an eye on the site at http://www.finishcarpentryhelp.com/ for new things coming soon. Here is the article.
Getting the Mind Set for Finish Carpentry
Lots of people want and try to do their own finish carpentry. They begin with high hopes and good intentions. They buy books, watch videos, talk to professionals, and use the web for information only to end up with total aggravation.
Failure is often inevitable and they reluctantly end up giving up because their trim work doesn’t turn out as good as they expected. They then have to spend precious dollars to hire a professional finish carpenter to come in and finish and sometimes repair the job they have started.
Here are some good tips and general information to help get that professional looking trim work for your project and hopefully keep the aggravation at bay. You always pass failure on your way to success.
First, when doing finish carpentry work, your attitude and mood directly affects your performance and quality of the trim work. Some of the best finish carpenters have a difficult time doing quality work if they are upset or mad or depressed about something in their life. To prevent this, in the morning before you begin working, take a shower, eat breakfast, put on some new shoes, have a clear mind, be in a fantastic mood and you will be surprised at what you can accomplish. Focus is the key.
Having the right tools for the project is also a huge factor for quality. Poor tools can some times produce poor quality. Poor tools can fuel aggravation. So be sure to buy or borrow the best tools you can. Make sure the saws have sharp blades, keep your pencil sharp, your knife sharp and your mind sharp and your work will be sharp. Remember - success doesn’t come to you, you go to it.
Knowing how to use these tools safely and effectively is also a big factor. Practice a while with them before working with them if you are not familiar with them. Practice making some angle cuts that are involved with trim work. All the different joints and miters can be a bit of a challenge at first - so practice making miters or coping or doing outside corners before cutting and installing the actual pieces. Practice with the different trim pieces like the casing or baseboard or shoe or chair rail whatever the job entails. Practice makes perfect.
Another factor that can distract you is the environment you are working in. Interruptions like too many people around or in the way, interrupting phone calls, working where it is cold or hot or what ever the case, all of these should be addressed before you begin. Do your best to make it as comfortable as possible. When you get to your working area clean it up and do what you can to keep it clean and clutter free. Walking over wood scraps and cords and hoses is not only annoying but also dangerous.
I once tripped over a hose with my hands full and fell to the floor. I caught my self with one hand hitting the floor and fractured my wrist. The best part is that I am indestructible and that sort of thing never happens to me….Yea Right!
Your goal is to make it as comfortable and as safe as you can any way you can, given the situation. Even after taking all of these suggestions into consideration this work can still try your patience. There may be times when no matter how hard you try you can’t make something work. When this happens, take a break, clean up, or go start something different, chances are when you come back it will work.
Remember this, wisdom and experience doesn’t come without a little suffering and rarely do we experience success without practice. If you take the time to prepare both mentally and with your technique, you will end up with a finished project you can be proud of.
Pat Fisher is a professional carpenter and woodworking craftsman. For more information on finish carpentry and household carpentry projects, visit www.finishcarpentryhelp.com and pick up your free eBook.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Chair rail
I haven't posted for a while because of being really busy. I had to post today because of some chair rail I have noticed. We have been on the McDonalds kick lately for breakfast and the trim work in some of these places is just aweful. Where they get the people to do this work is beyond me. This type of work is what gives us finish carpenters a bad name. Its pretty apparent that they don't screen their subs before they hire them...but then to let this type of work pass is irritating. There are to many good hard working carpenters out there to have this...yes I am a little frustrated!
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
baseboard
Lately I have been getting a lot of e-mails for baseboarding. I think I need to get a lot more pictures up at the site for this as I know that maybe my explainations are probably not the easiest to follow. At this point there is a lot of things going on but in the near future I will work on this for my readers. This week I will be going over to finish the office job and as promised I will get pictures to show this style of trim. As always keep e-mailing if you don't understand something and that can be done anywhere on my site at www.finishcarpentryhelp.com and I will answer as soon as I can
Monday, August 11, 2008
Happy Birthday Dad!
I had to mention my Dads birthday because I know he will get a kick out of seeing here. Actually its a day late his birthday is 2 days after moms.
Ok a little update: I know a lot of people are waiting for the handrailing e-book and it is coming along but its turning into a lot more than I anticipated. I want it to be as high quality as possible and to achieve that it takes time but its coming along and it shouldn't be to much longer....Also the cabinet e-book is coming along as well and should be just as good. Stay tuned!!
Ok a little update: I know a lot of people are waiting for the handrailing e-book and it is coming along but its turning into a lot more than I anticipated. I want it to be as high quality as possible and to achieve that it takes time but its coming along and it shouldn't be to much longer....Also the cabinet e-book is coming along as well and should be just as good. Stay tuned!!
Friday, August 8, 2008
Happy Birthday Mom!!!
Today is my mom's birthday...she is 65 yrs. young and I had to mention it because I know she will be reading this....Happy Birthday and I love you Mom.....Today I would like to talk about this company I am working with that is helping me set up the store and do continued work on my web site project. They are located in Indiana and have been absolutley wonderful. I have worked with a few web companies in the past, and this one stands out far above the others.
Mom always taught us to be curteous, honest and respectful to others. This company treats its customers that way - they give me straight answers with no b/s and listen to my opinion! They are honest, curteous and offer good solid advice and are interested in helping me achieve the next level in business...what a rare find in todays market. So if you are truly looking for web success here is the link to their company http://www.websuccessagency.com/
Mom always taught us to be curteous, honest and respectful to others. This company treats its customers that way - they give me straight answers with no b/s and listen to my opinion! They are honest, curteous and offer good solid advice and are interested in helping me achieve the next level in business...what a rare find in todays market. So if you are truly looking for web success here is the link to their company http://www.websuccessagency.com/
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Ever seen this?
I decided to replace my basement exterior door in my house with a patio glass sliding door. I bought this house a few years back and the exterior walls are extra wide not like your average 2x6 construction but never thought much about it. Come to find out when I opened up the wall there is actually two 2x4 walls built inside the wall. Each 2x4 wall has the cavities insulated plus the two walls are spaced apart 3 and 1/2 inches and that space has insulation running horizontally filling the space. In a sense it is a super insulated house. Each individual wall has poly between them and creates two vapor barriers. has anyone ever run into this? Let me know at my web page at www.finishcarpentryhelp.com I would be interested to hear and learn a little more concerning this.
Monday, August 4, 2008
store
Just a quick update...the new store is coming along and the first things for sale that I will be putting up are the tools for finish carpentry. The link to the store is www.finishcarpentryhelp.net but it is still closed for building. If there are items you would like to see for purchase at the store as always e-mail me and let me know.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Installing Trim
When installing other types of trim such as chair rail or quarter round or shoe and others refer to the baseboard pages. Installing these are basically the same and using the directions for cutting or coping will work with most of these different styles of trim.
Crown how ever is a little different but once you understand how it is installed and how it gets attached you would basically hold it on your saw the same way it gets attached and then make the cuts to the crown. I will be adding some detailed information on applying crown molding soon and will try to explain it as simple as possible although many things are happening right now and I need to get these projects done and up.
To get to the baseboard pages go to www.finishcarpentryhelp.com/baseboard.html and through that page are links to all of the instructions for installing.
Crown how ever is a little different but once you understand how it is installed and how it gets attached you would basically hold it on your saw the same way it gets attached and then make the cuts to the crown. I will be adding some detailed information on applying crown molding soon and will try to explain it as simple as possible although many things are happening right now and I need to get these projects done and up.
To get to the baseboard pages go to www.finishcarpentryhelp.com/baseboard.html and through that page are links to all of the instructions for installing.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Information
I would like to talk about the information on the website at www.finishcarpentryhelp.com If you end up on the site and can't find what you are looking for shoot me an e-mail through the contact form at the bottom of the pages, I would be glad to help. There is a lot of information on how to install the different trim work and the tools and if you don't understand some of it don't be afraid to ask as I know I am not the best writer out there.
Also when I first got the site up I got a lot of e-mails that were not getting answered because of a glitch....my answers were not getting back and I do feel bad about that but the glitch has been fixed and I anwer everyone.
I am constantly building this site and want to be able to provide all the information I can to help and have avenues available to help. I like the Google ads but they are not quite set up the way I would like yet, but this is being worked out and they will improve. Again let me know if there are
things you would like to see on the site I am open to all suggestions.
Also when I first got the site up I got a lot of e-mails that were not getting answered because of a glitch....my answers were not getting back and I do feel bad about that but the glitch has been fixed and I anwer everyone.
I am constantly building this site and want to be able to provide all the information I can to help and have avenues available to help. I like the Google ads but they are not quite set up the way I would like yet, but this is being worked out and they will improve. Again let me know if there are
things you would like to see on the site I am open to all suggestions.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
free e-book
To answer some questions on the free e-book...when you click to down load it you then click the high lighted text. I know its a lttle confusing and I plan on fixing this so its easier. This corner shelf is a creation of mine and yes it can very easily be modified to whatever you like. I use it for the T.V. and stereo components. You could even make it much nicer with a little imagination. Below is how it is advertised on my home page at www.finishcarpentryhelp.com and yes it is totally free. You do have to buy the materials but it is pretty basic and the materials are fairly cheap and the unit is easy to build.
Get the free E-book and check it out, Its basically a fancy corner shelf unit which can be used as an entertainment center or just a shelf for collectables. If you don't like the size try experimenting on making it smaller or more fancy. The pictures don't do justice. Everyone that sees it loves it and wants one. Its very easy to build.
Get the free E-book and check it out, Its basically a fancy corner shelf unit which can be used as an entertainment center or just a shelf for collectables. If you don't like the size try experimenting on making it smaller or more fancy. The pictures don't do justice. Everyone that sees it loves it and wants one. Its very easy to build.
Friday, July 25, 2008
TGIF
Its friday finally...I have been so busy lately...a lot of things are happening....the e-books are coming along good and should be ready to go live soon. I have been doing a bathroom remodel these last few days which is kind of different and fun. Also the store for www.finishcarpentryhelp.com
is being set up and is in construction and will be ready in a couple weeks. The new store will have its own address at www.finishcarpentryhelp.net which is kinda cool and also it will be linked from the original site. Ok time to get this day going.
is being set up and is in construction and will be ready in a couple weeks. The new store will have its own address at www.finishcarpentryhelp.net which is kinda cool and also it will be linked from the original site. Ok time to get this day going.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
work
This web page stuff is lots of work....I finished up the office job and am continuing with web site work or trying to...had a major break down of my computer and haven't been able to do much on the site at www.finishcarpentryhelp.com . Hopefully everything will start running smoothly again and things can get moving ahead....better days are coming!
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
E-Books
I have had a few people asking about the cabinet e-book and handrail e-book. I am hoping they will be done and ready soon as for a time frame possibly in about 2 weeks. I am also working to get the ecommerce store set up on the website at www.finishcarpentryhelp.com so tools and materials can be purchased at the site. All this is a lot of work and as always more pages and information is in progress to be added. Hopefully in a month or sooner everthing will be functioning properly and we can start adding more goodies.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Happy 4TH of July
The last few days I have been trimming out some offices. This trim job involves the use of some different styles of trim and the use of target blocks which I have not yet covered at www.finishcarpentryhelp.com. The Target blocks get installed at the top corners of the doors so no miters or 45 degree cuts need to be made and the casing gets installed up to these blocks with just straight cuts. Same for the windows, the blocks get installed at all the corners no mitering needed.
The baseboard is of the large variety like you would see in the older homes. I believe it is 4-6 inches in height when installed ( I haven't measured the exact width yet but I will and will post some pictures). This bigger baseboard has to be cut in a little different manner then the more popular smaller baseboard which is covered at the web site.
In the future I will be adding pages of instructions to the web site explaining how to cut and install some of these different styles of trim work, so stay tuned.
The baseboard is of the large variety like you would see in the older homes. I believe it is 4-6 inches in height when installed ( I haven't measured the exact width yet but I will and will post some pictures). This bigger baseboard has to be cut in a little different manner then the more popular smaller baseboard which is covered at the web site.
In the future I will be adding pages of instructions to the web site explaining how to cut and install some of these different styles of trim work, so stay tuned.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Mounting a handrail
For those of you that were asking about attaching a small handrail to a wall, I have the instructions finally written and to find it go here www.finishcarpentryhelp.com/wood-handrail.html . Again if you have any questions or comments let me know and thanks to all that have help me with corrections.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
bidding
I would like to add a little about the bidding page at http://www.finishcarpentryhelp.com/how-to-bid-finish-carpentry.html. The example I used refers to a very simple house and is just a base to work off of. The higher end houses requires a little different approach due to the fact of extra trim work involved. Things like high windows, extra crown molding or just about anything extra, beyond the doors windows and base has to be taken into consideration. Example is your square footage price would not include something like 100' of crown molding installed in different rooms, in this case I would determine things like how much cutting is involved in the installation and the amount of footage of crown. I have done enough where I can estimate my time without cutting my own throat but for inexperienced people trying to bid do take your time and becareful to take everything into consideration.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Bidding Finish Carpentry
Bidding finish carpentry I recently added a page to my website at www.finishcarpentryhelp.com explaining a little about how to bid finish carpentry. Bidding is not that difficult and you if you follow the example you will be very competative. There are of course circumstances where this would not apply and circumstances where there is more work involved and the bidding process would have to be modified but this would give you a good starting point or a base to work off of. The link to this page is http://www.finishcarpentryhelp.com/how-to-bid-finish-carpentry.html
Friday, June 20, 2008
Another Good Website
Another web site I like is www.hometime.com with Dean Johnson. Again a lot of information regarding every aspect of your house and home like www.askthebuilder.com. Dean Johnson the host actually performed different jobs on Tv and I thought it was a pretty good show. Another very talented and knowledgable guy. Check him out.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Lots of Help
If you are looking for other information regarding building or remodeling, a good site that I like and follow is www.askthebuilder.com. He has just about all the information you could imagine when it comes to working on your house or even driveway or landscaping. The guys name is Tim Carter and he actually answers e-mails from people with all sorts of questions about there homes . He is a very knowledgable guy and I encourage you to check him out.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Finish Carpentry Advice To Help You
One common problem when applying casing to a door or window is the jamb does not come out flush with the sheetrock of the interior wall. This is particully true on outside doors or garage doors. One way to remedy this is to take your hammer and hammer down or crunch the sheetrock down next to the jamb. Be careful as to not damage the steetrock out past what your trim will cover. If you do, it can be fixed with a little spackle or sheetrock mud but try to avoid this. The idea here is to get the casing as flat against the wall as possible so it is not tipped in to the jamb. The more it is tipped the harder it is to get nice mitered corners.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Finish Carpentry Advice To Help You
When using hardwoods such as oak or maple or whatever stay away from knots in the wood. If you shoot near a knot you risk splitting the wood. The wood will undoubtably split on you at one point or another. If the wood splits off just glue and clamp the little piece and if possible use this piece in an area that is not noticeable such as inside a closet or back side of a bedroom door.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Finish Carpentry Advice To Help You
For casing windows for the first time:
With windows a lot of time curtains or window dressings will cover up the trim. Start in the bedrooms or back rooms first or where you think there may be curtains. Casing windows does take a little practice and patience so take your time with the miters. Try to keep your reveal as uniform as possible but if you do need to fudge it a little to tighten up a miter that is ok as long as its just a tiny adjustment. The reveal is not as eye catching as a loose miter. If you look at trim work in restaurants and businesses and other homes you will see a huge variety of the quality of work. Some of the quality is really nice and some is so bad you wonder how it passed.
With windows a lot of time curtains or window dressings will cover up the trim. Start in the bedrooms or back rooms first or where you think there may be curtains. Casing windows does take a little practice and patience so take your time with the miters. Try to keep your reveal as uniform as possible but if you do need to fudge it a little to tighten up a miter that is ok as long as its just a tiny adjustment. The reveal is not as eye catching as a loose miter. If you look at trim work in restaurants and businesses and other homes you will see a huge variety of the quality of work. Some of the quality is really nice and some is so bad you wonder how it passed.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Finish Carpentry Advice To Help You
No Experience No Problem
If for example you are going to hang doors for the first time. Start in the back of the house or in a closet or less visible places. Have someone help it just makes everything go better with an extra set of eyes and hands. Take your time. Refer to http://www.finishcarpentryhelp.com/finish-carpentry-tips.html page for problems you may run into. Learn from your mistakes, the more doors you hang the better you will get.
If for example you are going to hang doors for the first time. Start in the back of the house or in a closet or less visible places. Have someone help it just makes everything go better with an extra set of eyes and hands. Take your time. Refer to http://www.finishcarpentryhelp.com/finish-carpentry-tips.html page for problems you may run into. Learn from your mistakes, the more doors you hang the better you will get.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Finish Carpentry Advice To Help You
Accurate measurements
In finish carpentry to obtain those perfect measurements, set the wood in place and mark the wood. It’s quicker and much more accurate then using a tape measure for the precise cuts at joints and miters. I only use my tape when it is necessary.
In finish carpentry to obtain those perfect measurements, set the wood in place and mark the wood. It’s quicker and much more accurate then using a tape measure for the precise cuts at joints and miters. I only use my tape when it is necessary.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Finish Carpentry Advice To Help You
Match your Wood
Let’s say for example oak. The wood grains and color of oak can vary quite a bit so match your trim wood ahead of time for a good uniform look in your trim work. For the pieces that don't match use them in closets and less conspicuous places or places only you will see like the laundry room. This applys to other varieties of wood also not just oak.
Let’s say for example oak. The wood grains and color of oak can vary quite a bit so match your trim wood ahead of time for a good uniform look in your trim work. For the pieces that don't match use them in closets and less conspicuous places or places only you will see like the laundry room. This applys to other varieties of wood also not just oak.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Finish Carpentry Advice To Help You
Finish carpentry information and simple advice for professional looking trim work. At www.finishcarpentryhelp.com I give some step by step instructions on applying trim work so the most inexperienced homeowner can do it. As you follow along through these steps all the different joints and miters can be a bit of a challenge at first so practice making miters or coping or doing outside corners before installing the actual pieces. You also get more use to and comfortable with the saw and other tools. More advice to come.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
update
First I want to say thanks to all the people who visit my site and blog. I have been starting to work on some short how to videos. I have been getting a lot of e-mails on the page of baseboard returns at http://www.finishcarpentryhelp.com/baseboard-return.html wanting to know about pictures. I am working on that but also I think this will be one of the first short videos to start with and will definitely clarify things. If there is any thing anyone would like to see just let me know.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Just starting out
My first blog...where to start...I guess I started my page to help people out with there own carpentry projects. Finish carpentry is not that difficult and I know a lot of people are trying to do it but don't understand. I know this from personal experience as anyone new that I meet as soon as they find out what I do for a living have many many questions. I have learned it is easier to do the work rather than exlain it but I hope I am getting better at the latter so people understand. My page is www.finishcarpentryhelp.com and work is constantly in progress trying to make it better. I am thinking about starting to put up videos to help the explaining process but it will be a little bit before I can get to that
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