After watching the video and using the drawings included in this article, if you have trouble making a wooden miter saw stand….you probably shouldn’t be using a miter saw. :-) Read the full article…
After watching the video and using the drawings included in this article, if you have trouble making a wooden miter saw stand….you probably shouldn’t be using a miter saw. :-) Read the full article…
I recently worked on a video series for Festool in which I covered examples of how you might use a Festool track saw in a shop or on the jobsite. In the following videos, I demonstrate how a track saw produces exceptional results when trimming down doors, how using a track saw can save time and additional steps when back beveling a door, and how a track saw offers a better solution than a table saw for making complex bevel or miter cuts. Read the full article…
I recently worked on a video series for Festool in which I covered examples of how you might use a Festool track saw in a shop or on the jobsite. In the following video, I demonstrate a quick, easy and safe method of ripping plywood sheets down into panels or strips. This technique is well-suited for producing cabinetry components. Read the full article…
Since I first took the pictures you saw in the first half of my article, Portable Pre-assembly Tables, I was able to figure out an even better way to pre-assemble casing, especially small casing. Now I use a Clam Clamp! Read the full article…
(Photos by Kirk Grodske)
I don’t do a lot of trim work. But when I do, it’s often stain-grade or pre-painted, and the miters have to be perfect! I mostly hang doors, so I rarely have a full-size work table set up—usually, I just have a door bench. Most of the casing I work with is small. At first, I thought it was too small to survive a Clam Clamp, but I’ve learned better (more on that later!). Read the full article…
Step-by-step instructions for drawing an ellipse with the string method—a complimentary Quick Reference Guide to TiC full-length articles, The Elegant Ellipse and Finding the Right Angle. Read the full article…
A door is a door is a door. And although doors might differ in construction or design, you should be doing the exact same thing every time you install one. Read the full article…
I recently worked on a video series for Festool in which I covered examples of how you might use a Festool track saw in a shop or on the jobsite. I typically work out of a small garage-based shop, and yet I’m able to process sheet goods in a one-person operation with limited space—something that wouldn’t be nearly as easy with a table saw. Read the full article…
One of the most important aspects of window installation is weatherproofing. I’ve seen too many jobs with window flashing installed improperly, allowing moisture to penetrate the jamb, leading to air and water leaks, rot, mold—the whole mess. Read the full article…
The TiC Toolbox is a new, FREE mobile app—a pocket reference from THISisCarpentry.com, created especially for carpenters, contractors, and architects. Download the TiC Toolbox for instant, on-the-job problem-solving, for in-the-shop solutions, or use it as a desktop reference! This app will improve skills and increase productivity. Read the full article…
The values on the calculator that we use for common roof framing are: Pitch, Rise, Run, and Diagonal. If you have any two of those values, the calculator will quickly figure out the rest of the right triangle—which means it will tell you everything else you need to know about a rafter. Read the full article…
1. Does PVC trim require a primer?
A primer is only needed if you want the paint manufacturer’s warranty. Excellent adhesion can be achieved by properly cleaning the board before applying a topcoat of paint to PVC trim. (Refer to painting guidelines in the Versatex contractor handbook for more information on painting PVC trim.) Read the full article…
What matters when you’re laying out a coffered ceiling is the size of the finished beam, not the size of the crown molding. And you have to use the Outside Dimension of the full finished beam—the O.D.—not the backing or substrate you might be installing first. Read the full article…
Step-by-step instructions for drawing an elliptical arch with the string method—a complimentary Quick Reference Guide to Mike Sloggatt’s full-length article, The Elegant Ellipse. Read the full article…