UPDATE (February 26, 2014) Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 1123 with a 295-114 vote decision. The ruling repeals the 2012 Library of Congress (LOC) decision that limited the ability to legally "unlock" your smartphone (see below). This decision reins ...more
A spare key is one of those things that never seems like a huge deal until you need it. If you've ever lost your keys, had them stolen, or locked yourself out of your house or car, you know how difficult and embarrassing it can be trying to get your door open. So, how would y ...more
In this video from This Old House, you'll learn how to repair vinyl siding with General Contractor Tom Silva Steps: 1. Cut piece of faded siding from an inconspicuous spot to replace the damaged section; it'll better match the house than brand-new siding. 2. Use framing squar ...more
Watch this video from This Old House to learn how to repair shingle siding. Steps: 1 Make a story pole from a straight 1x3; mark locations of shingle courses on pole. 2 Use pitchfork to remove all damaged shingles from house. 3 Peel off any paper or housewrap; inspect the con ...more
Watch this video from This Old House to learn how to paint aluminum siding. Steps: 1. Rub siding with cloth to check for powdery paint pigment and mildew. 2. Cover ground and nearby shrubs with drop cloths. 3. Test old siding paint for lead using a lead test kit; if lead is p ...more
In this online video series, learn from construction expert Jon Olson as he removes and installs new house siding to show you how to replace the siding on your home. Jon will teach you how to check your house siding, what tools and materials you will need to remove your house ...more
A butcher block table (or counter) is a solid, wooden table. Originating in butcher shops (hence the name), this has become a popular household item. Butcher block tables and counters are durable and attractive looking. The downside of butcher block is that the wood is so poro ...more
How to Build a Basic BirdhouseMaybe you were outside in your back yard and you noticed that it seemed a little lonely and empty. Our maybe you have young kids that love to experience wild life in their own back yard. Whatever reason you have for searching out this article, you ...more
Watch this video from This Old House to learn how to repair clapboard. Steps: 1. Pull loose nails from clapboard siding. 2. Tap flat bar under siding to loosen nails. 3. Secure old siding by driving ring-shank nails down at an angle through the old nail holes. 4. Pull nails f ...more
Changing the rear disc brakes on your 2001 Chrysler Town & Country (henceforth referred to as T&C) can be quite a challenge, but if you can spare a few hours (remember that you need to budget time to get the brake parts from the parts house) and are willing to get a little dir ...more
The video gives a step by step tutorial on how to replace the water pump, all belts and the shaft seals on a Porsche 944 S2. The video has a German soundtrack but English subtitles are available at YouTube. The repair is shown for a S2, but most steps are the same for other mo ...more
Watch this video from This Old House to learn how to build a stained-glass bar cabinet. Steps: 1. Cut the cabinet's 1x preprimed pine sides to the length of the glass door. The ends and shelves should be 1½ inches smaller than the window's width. (You can also have the wood c ...more
Watch this video from This Old House to learn how to install a prehung door. Steps: 1. Use drill/driver to back out door hinge screws; remove door 2. Remove screws and/or nails from the hinge-side doorjamb 3. Push old doorframe out of the opening, and discard 4. Install Z-fla ...more
Watch this video from This Old House to learn how to put in a storm door. Steps: 1 Use bevel square to establish angle of doorsill. 2 Mark doorsill angle onto the bottom end of the hinge frame. 3 Use hacksaw to cut hinge frame to length. 4 Screw hinge frame to edge of screen ...more
Cleaning the siding on the second story of your house used to be a difficult task. But pressure washers have made cleaning high up places easier than ever. No need to use use a scaffolding or ladder. Watch this Home & Garden how to video to learn how to use a pressure washer t ...more
Watch this video from This Old House to learn how to lay a flagstone walkway. Steps: 1 Use a garden hose to lay out the shape and location of the 3-foot-wide walkway. 2 Cut through the sod and roots along the hose using a flat-blade shovel or edger. 3 Dig 3 to 4 inches of dir ...more
Watch this video from This Old House to learn how to maintain a steam radiator. Steps: 1 Close the valve at base of radiator. 2 Turn off the room's thermostat. 3 Carefully unscrew the old air vent from side of radiator; if valve is hot, use thick cloth to protect your hand. 4 ...more
Watch this video from This Old House to learn how to install an under-sink water filter. Steps: 1 Close the cold-water shut-off valve leading to the kitchen sink. 2 Disconnect the copper cold-water pipe from the supply line that runs up to the faucet. 3 Wrap Teflon tape aroun ...more
Watch this video from This Old House to learn how to remove a tree stump. Steps: 1 Use shovel to dig out any rocks from around the tree stump. 2 Start up the stump grinder and drive it close to the stump. 3 Raise the grinder's cutting wheel slightly above the stump. 4 Drive g ...more
Here are some examples of brickwork for dioramas or war game terrain. Create a fine grit coating for foam carvings using a mixture of white glue, paint and fine sand. Press in brick patterns into foam, or if working in smaller scale, you can coat cardboard with a thin coat of ...more
Have you ever been getting your thang on at a club, totally impressing your lady and just feeling the music until you decide to switch from one dance move to another and instead of solid flow you either fumble or have to stop and start again? It's easy to get taken off the bea ...more
Pokemon's Darkrai is one of the most coveted levels of the game. With this tutorial, learn how to find Darkrai in a few easy steps, as well as secure a Membership Pass and a Mystery Gift in Pokemon Platinum. So grab your Nintendo DS and follow along! The Darkrai event for pok ...more
I like to grow vegetables all year round, and I couldn't afford the big gas bulbs, or the power to run them. The big gas bulbs: can explode can burn you and your plants cost upwards of $50 a month to operate raise the temperature in your home, causing the air conditioning to ...more
Do you have a cupcake fan in your house who's having a birthday soon? Then he/she will just die over these cupcake cakes, each of which contains not just one, but three cupcakes stacked high and proud to form a multilayered "cake." The great thing about this food project is t ...more
Christmas means decorating trees with store-purchased ornaments and tinsel, decorating stairwells with store-purchased garlands, and decorating the exterior of your house with store-purchased lights. These days everything you need can be puchased pre-made somewhere, and while ...more
Do you have a t-shirt lying around the house with the most gorgeous sailor stripe pattern but is simply too small to fit you now? Don't despair; in this episode of "Whitney Sews," you'll learn a method for creating a shrug out of an old t-shirt. Because the shurg is made out ...more
You know that moment of slow motion when you realize your keys are still in the ignition while the car door is closing? If you've accidentally locked yourself out of your car, check out this tutorial. In this video, learn how to use nothing but a screwdriver and a steel rod t ...more
Those discs you thought were done for because of scratches and years of use now have a second chance at working and all you need to do so is get some things together from around the house. You'll need toothpaste most importantly, some tissues, water and the actual CD you want ...more
You can’t expect to paint a masterpiece on untreated cloth. Here’s how to gesso, or prime, a homemade canvas in a hurry. You will need gesso, water, a plastic mixing bowl, a drop cloth, fine grit sandpaper and a house paintbrush. Tip: some painters prefer to use a squeegee to ...more
Street Skateboarding: Take It to the Streets The guys on the prefab ramps and half-pipes make the X Games headlines, but the real frontier of the skateboarding world is out on the street, where everyday obstacles become the tools of the trade. Find out here how to turn your s ...more
Street Skateboarding: Take It to the Streets The guys on the prefab ramps and half-pipes make the X Games headlines, but the real frontier of the skateboarding world is out on the street, where everyday obstacles become the tools of the trade. Find out here how to turn your s ...more
Watch this video from This Old House to learn how fix a unbalanced door. Steps: 1 Close door and check the spacing at the top and latch-side of the door. 2 Determine which hinge must be shimmed to adjust door and create even spacing. 3 Remove appropriate hinge from door and j ...more
Watch this video from This Old House to learn how to install a door latch. Steps: 1 Transfer lockset location from old door to edge of new door. 2 Screw hole-boring template to door for drilling out the lockset holes. 3 Bore the doorknob hole through the face of door using a ...more
Watch this video from This Old House to learn how to install a radiator thermostat. Steps: 1 Close the valve at base of radiator. 2 Turn off the room's thermostat. 3 Carefully unscrew the existing air vent from side of radiator. 4 Put Teflon tape on threads of new thermostati ...more
Downing drinks while perched on the bed, the floor, and the arms of the couch is totally awesome!!! (If you're a college freshman.) Otherwise it sucks. Don't get us wrong; living small doesn't mean you can't party like a rock star, it just requires a little creativity. This pr ...more
Just take a piece of square paper, and fold along with this video to get a paper bat! Memorize it (it's really easy!) and show off your skills at your next Halloween party - or use it as decoration, whether for your costume, or the house. Using paper that's black on one side a ...more
How to Make Lettuce or Cabbage from Polymer Clay for Miniature Doll House. The demonstrator shows us how to make Lettuce or Cabbage from clay. Take a green color clay, and make it into a small ball, then harden it by using a blow dryer. Take another small ball, heat it with y ...more
Tim Carter of Ask the Builder demonstrates the basics of a framing square. Tim shows how to make the marks for a simple roof rafter. A simple tool like a framing square can help with laying out cuts for building a swing set or play house. The framing square is good for making ...more
Watch Chef Hubert Keller whip up a coffee cake that will fill your house and taste buds with the comforting aromas and flavors of cinnamon and sugar. Ingredients 1 package dry yeast 3 tablespoons sugar 1/3 cup warm water 1/2 cup sour cream 1/2 cup cold milk 1 large egg 1-1/2 ...more
Box Seats! Put the art back in party furniture with collapsible tables and stools. Downing drinks while perched on the bed, the floor, and the arms of the couch is totally awesome!!! (If you’re a college freshman.) Otherwise it sucks. Don’t get us wrong; living small doesn’t m ...more
Watch this fine art video tutorial to learn how to illustrate with markers and colored pencils. "This video shows my process for making an illustration (non tradigital). I use illustration markers (usually prismacolor) and color pencils (usually prisma once again) and a wax b ...more
Watch this video from This Old House to learn how to install a deadbolt lock. Steps: 1 Position paper template on door edge; mark center holes on face and edge. 2 Drill face hole using hole saw; drill from both sides to prevent splintering. 3 Drill edge hole with spade bit. 4 ...more
Watch this video from This Old House to learn how to install a rain diverter. Steps: 1. Sand underside of flashing with 80-grit sandpaper to help paint adhere; wipe surface clean. 2. Spray-paint bottom surface and up-turned edge of flashing to match color of roof. 3. Cut flas ...more
Watch this video from This Old House to learn how to install a gas fireplace. Steps: 1 Prepare installation site by building wall recess to accept fireplace. 2 Cut hole through exterior house wall and install stovepipe thimble. 3 Attach short section of stovepipe to exhaust p ...more
In this video, This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook explains how to prune and train rose bushes. Steps: 1. Inspect rose bush to find old, dead or weak branches. 2. Use pruning saw to cut through selected branches at the base of plant. 3. Deadhead plant with bypass ...more
Watch this video from This Old House to learn how to choose exterior paint schemes. Steps: 1. For small, simple Queen Anne home, choose a three-color scheme; large, elaborate Victorians can support up to seven different colors 2. Choose paint colors for three main areas: the ...more
Watch this video from This Old House to learn how to plant a tree. Steps: 1. Measure width of tree’s root ball; multiply times three to calculate tree-hole diameter. 2. Mark the tree-hole diameter onto the ground with line-marking spray paint. 3. Use shovel to remove grass fr ...more
Watch this video from This Old House to learn how to vent a bathroom fan. Steps:1. Screw the humidifier to a wall near the furnace. 2. Cut away insulation from the duct using a utility knife. 3. Position the hole-cutting template onto side of duct. 4. Drill pilot hole through ...more
First, I would like to explain that among my family members, I am considered somewhat of an oddball. Mostly because of some of the mods that I have performed on a few of my woodworking tools. After I show you what I did to my drill press, you may be inclined to agree. When I f ...more
This is a video tutorial how to change the drive axle boots at a Porsche 944. The boots are different for the different versions, i.e., the Turbo and S2 version have stronger drive axles, but the work is the same for all models. Note The video has a German soundtrack but Eng ...more
Garden of Imagination demonstrates how to make a real working miniature chandelier light for a doll house. We need some cord wires, beads, an electric bulb of 12 volt and plugs. Take the cord connected to a plug and remove the metal tips and remove the plugs. There will be tw ...more
Taking great photos doesn’t mean you have to invest in an expensive camera. By learning a little bit about photography and the camera you have, you can use a simple point-and-shoot to capture amazing pictures. Try out these tips to begin! 1. Take the time to learn your camera ...more
This video gives a step by step tutorial how to service a Porsche 944. The service is demonstrated on an S2, but most steps are very similar for other versions. The video has a German soundtrack but English subtitles are available at YouTube. Working under the car Remove engi ...more
After taking a beginner’s art class at my local community college I realized two things: one, art supplies are extremely expensive, and two, I am not talented at painting. Although my painting skills are comparable to those of a five year old, I still enjoy art and being creat ...more
Recently, buyout talks between Google and Groupon ended with Groupon turning down Google's $6 million offer. But with Amazon backing LivingSocial, should they have? Your guess is as good as mine, but one thing's for sure— Groupon has a great voice, and they're sharing it with ...more
First off, don't be frustrated. YOU CAN DO IT! Contrary to the message in the image above, it's NOT over. It's just beginning. And when it comes to solving the New York Times crossword puzzle, the old cliche does apply: practice makes perfect. I've read quite a few books and ...more
A carport, or lean-to shed, attached to an existing building such as a garage, barn, shed or the side of your house can provide economical shelter for vehicles, garden tractors, boats or other equipment. An attached carport is also fairly easy to construct against the side of ...more
Sometimes a simple drowning trap is too boring, and you want something that's a little more stylish and exciting. That's where this trap comes in! This is what I like to call "The Mangler". It consists of a set of pistons that chomp together, literally chewing up your enemies ...more
Watch this video for instructions on making the Yukki Cross Artemis scythe from the anime / manga Vampire Knight. Supply list: 4 foam board pieces (dimensions 32 x 40 x 3/16 in) paper mache hot glue gun wooden pole approx 5 feet tall craft bond spray paint paint brushes acryl ...more
Have you ever felt cold in your older home, even with the heat cranked? Ever feel drafts that seem to come from nowhere? And conversely, in the summer, is your home an oven? Many older houses are improperly insulated, if there is any insulation at all. This can have a large im ...more