There are a lot of frustrations when you're dealing with cramped living quarters, but you can do a lot of good cooking in your tiny kitchen if you make the most of your space. These storage hacks will make it easy to cook delicious meals, no matter how limited your square foot ...more
One of the biggest downsides to having so many gadgets is that you never seem to have enough outlets to power them all. Most of us have a power strip or two to solve this problem, but Instructables user dlewisa wanted something a little nicer looking, so he built this DIY desk ...more
This video is an overview of all the videos in our DIY Shed Videos Series. Henry briefly goes over what you will learn in all 15 of our shed building videos. Video: . To get started, check out the following guides for building your shed. Part 1: Ground Preparation Part 2: Sel ...more
Ironing is a serious chore: hot, unpleasant, and frustrating all in one, but necessary if you don't want to look like you crawled out of bed just before work. While you might only turn to your flatiron when faced with wrinkled clothing, this little appliance packs the power to ...more
Check out this five-part video tutorial on how to use fiberglass finish over balsa wood for RC airplanes. If you like building engines and bodies for remote-controlled vehicles (airplanes), then this will definitely help you out, just by learning how to apply simple fiberglass ...more
Learn about different finishes. In this video, the Wood Whisperer puts the finish on a pencil holder. It's not just any finish. Since we are working with a beautiful curly maple, the finish deserves a little extra special attention. Learn how to pop the grain.
Did someone spill Kool-Aid or red wine on your hardwood floor? Well, before you bust out the power tools, watch this how to video with few home remedies that will lift up that stain, and require a lot less power tools.
In this video Bob Schmidt shows you how to prepare stained trim for installation and touch up during your home improvement projects.
Wood is a great construction material, but after time and weather it does become worn and old-looking. Restore it's original sheen by stripping it, or removing the outside of the wood to reveal new wood beneath, after watching this video.
Tim Carter, of Ask the Builder, demonstrates three easy ways to remove nails from pieces of wood, like trim or baseboards, so they can be reused in future home projects.
Tim Carter shows you how to get a perfect finish when using wood putty and carpenters wood filler on stained wood. Tim specifically explains how wood putty comes in different colors and you can mix them to get the correct color match. Short video, but well-instructed.
Gatorade: its popular red flavor can stain the whitest fabric, and its sweet taste is oddly refreshing after breaking a sweat. If you've ever participated in a sport, you probably spent halftime at games and practice breaks chugging the stuff. Though it made its name as a spor ...more
If you have hardwood floors in your house, take a look at your baseboards. Right in front of the baseboards there is usually a smaller, curved molding about ¾” tall. How does this short molding look? Is it painted over, chipped and/or just beat up in general? If so, you can ea ...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
In this video from cdrhead we learn how to save money by staining your own concrete floors. First vacuum the floor and under the sheet rock removing as much dirt and dust as you can. Place plastic on all walls and unfinished wood trim. Now use a 4 inch scraper to remove any re ...more
A good cutting board is almost as important as the utensils you use on it. The wrong type can cause your blades to dull faster, and certain materials hold onto juices (and therefore bacteria) from food. You can wash a plastic board with just about anything, but what about wood ...more
This little brain game is all about engineering a lower center of gravity. The idea has been around forever, but most people still don't know how to do it. Trying to stack nails above the balance point will raise the CG and make the structure unstable. Here's how you can lower ...more
People ask me all the time, "Nick, what are the best blinds for my home in terms of Wood vs. Faux Wood?" Well the answer to that question is not so cut and dry. However, I can help steer you in the right direction. In this post, we will examine the pros and cons of both wood a ...more
The game has undergone many transitions over the years, since its days as LEXIKO (1931) to its briefness as CRISS CROSS WORDS to its current and amalgamated, renowned brand of SCRABBLE. There has been many editions of the word board game along that historic metamorphosis, and ...more
Remember the arcades? Were you saddened when they closed up one by one, leaving no outlet to actually go out and socialize while you played video games? With all the home consoles and internet connectivity, gaming has evolved, but the social factor has been eliminated. Sure we ...more
I assume at this point you have already completed your control panel using Part 1 of this How To guide. Now, if you are anything like me, you couldn't fight the urge to play, and you have your panel sitting on saw horses in the living room. Depending on your situation, your s ...more
This article is a guide for making Chainmail Armor from start (simple wire) to finish (a finished chainmail shirt). We will be using the European 4 in 1 weave, as this is the most common weave. This is the weave that you usually see in movies. There are several sections to thi ...more
This article will show you how to make a shutter release cable for a Canon camera. It took me about half an hour once all of my materials were gathered. I came in at a total of about eight dollars. It has three switches and buttons. The black button on mine triggers the auto f ...more
Sandpaper is one of the essential tools of woodworking and carpentry, and there are many types with different applications. This video is for woodworking beginners and will teach you a lot of the basics about sanding so that you can give your pieces the finish they deserve.
Remember summer camp? Remember the smell of the log cabins? The feel of the treated wood? Well, you can create something for your home that's perfect for a nostalgic summer camp aesthetic. Meg Allen Cole (recently of Threadbanger) was inspired to make this mid-century modern w ...more
Rick van Man of Container Gardening For Food details his techniques for making a solar-powered food dehydrator out of such household debris as scrap wood and old pint cans. The finished product looks amazingly professional! Truly a must-watch for any DIY-inclined gardening ent ...more
Give a bird a home with help from this handyman tutorial! Learn step-by-step how to build a professional looking Bluebird nesting box bird house. To build this nesting box you will need the following tools & materials: rough cedar or pine, a tape measure, pencil, speed square, ...more
You can have a beautiful, finished deck even when it has been exposed to the elements. Learn how to refinish a deck with this step by step tutorial. You will have to sand the wood in order reveal the natural wood color of your deck. Watch this how to video and you will have a ...more
In this video, we learn how to make a shadowbox. First, you will need to have a frame that is thick and pops out from the wall. After this, layer hot glue down on the inside of the frame where you are going to put what goes on the inside. Decorate it how you like, a good idea ...more
Building a storage box for your deck is a smart way to add extra storage to an area usually not known for having storage. The great thing about using wood than plastic, is that is adds to the feeling of being outside and can be stained to match the look of your deck. This thre ...more
This is a video which shows how to create a suede finish on walls using paint. To do this the right tools are necessary. Use a special suede finish paint and a nine inch specialty roller. Arrow wood merant is used for the color. Tape the ceiling and base boards. Paint the corn ...more
Watch this video from This Old House to learn how to replace an old threshold. Steps: 1 Remove old threshold from doorway using hammer and reciprocating saw. 2 Use reciprocating saw to cut the nails securing toekick; remove toekick. 3 Test-fit new threshold in doorway. 4 Buil ...more
A wooden ring can be a beautiful, handcrafted item of jewelry, rare and unquiet. This excellent how to will show you the steps necessary to turn your own wooden ring on a lathe and then finish it for wearing. The wood used in this video is Cocobolo, a lovely hardwood that will ...more
Detail sanders are one of the finest tools for polishing wood surfaces to a perfectly smooth finish. But it often costs a lot to replace detail sander sheets. Luckily, there's a way to save some moolah on your sanding sheet needs. Detail sander sheets are currently £7 for 5 a ...more
In this tutorial, we learn how to make a photo cube. This project can be done in a couple of hours and only costs a couple of dollars! To start, you will first get an exact measurement of the width of your wood. After marking these, you will cut the wood using a band saw. Afte ...more
Airsoft is a fun and exciting tactical game that really gets you off your feet! And what really sets it apart from paintball is the guns! They look much closer to the real thing and add that extra depth to the game! But the paint jobs and wood finishes are never the best, but ...more
In this tutorial, we learn how to create a realistic, severe burn using cinema makeup. You will need to start out with unflavored gelatin made to be placed on the skin to create texture and a glossy look for blood. Start by applying the gelatin to the face with a flat wood sti ...more
In this tutorial, we learn how to make a pole camera with John Park. You can take some amazing pictures by just using a pole to mount your camera onto and take pictures with. Most cameras will work with a general pole as long as they have a tripod mounting pole. To help you pr ...more
Mike Kraft tells us how to clean a concrete driveway in this video. The driveway can collect a lot of different stains, which can lead to deterioration. Pressure washing is the best way to clean a brick or concrete driveway. You will first need to place detergent onto the driv ...more
Kissable lips are quite the oxymoron, because though kissble lips look bright, glossy, and plump, thereby attracting suitors to their whims, all the products used to make them look kissible actually prevent anyone from actually wanting to kiss them (unless they're willing to r ...more
In this tutorial, you will learn exactly how to make a router-based inlay. And inlay is made up of small cut out sections of wood, and looks like a stencil or pattern when you are finished. Inlay is a great way to adorn your woodworking projects. Even the simplest item can bec ...more
This video shows the viewer how to paint their nails to give them a blood stained look for Halloween. This is done by first putting a small amount of dark red nail varnish onto a sheet of paper. Then apply this in many coats to the nail using a foundation brush to give a layer ...more
Tommy has finished the box frame with front work and blocking attached. Now it's time to make the astragal for the pediment. An astragal can be an architectural element used at the top or base of a column, and it is also used as a framing device on furniture. He drank extra co ...more
In this tutorial, we learn how to make a paper mache baby elephant. To begin, you will need a pattern, which you can find at Ultimate Paper Mache. There is a grid on the pattern that you can use to expand onto a large piece of particle board. This will give you the entire body ...more
It's no secret, artists are broke. That's why they're referred to as "starving artists". One day these artists will achieve unimaginable success, but for most of their lives, they'll be struggling to survive… struggling to keep their vision alive. That's why they need to work ...more
Here is a very crafty and cute way to create a wind chime out of old salt and pepper shakers that can be found either around your house or bought at second hand stores and a small tin tray or plate to hang your shakers from. A bit of out door or water-proof glue and some color ...more
The "wood-chopper" isn't just for lumberjacks. You can get the full woodsman workout yourself, without the axe! Men's Health shows you how to do the wood-chopper exercise, and when you power through this move, your upper and lower body, along with your core muscles, are workin ...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
Learn how to remove grass stains with the folks from Martha Stewart's REAL SIMPLE. Summer means light-colored clothing?and light-colored clothing often means grass stains. This quick approach should get the green out. Don't let those pesky grass stains ruin your summer clothes ...more
Gathering the materials is probably the most challenging part of the project, though it's great fun. 1. Start by lightly sanding the board to create a smooth working surface. Then arrange the doorknobs across the board’s face to see how they’ll look after they’re attached. On ...more
Learn how to do center, diagonal and side to side heavy medicine ball chops. Presented by Real Jock Gay Fitness Health & Life. Benefits To train your entire body—arms, legs, core, and back—try this sequence of medicine ball chops. Start with center chops, then move to diagona ...more
Make your own personalized coasters using Scrabble tiles! You design them, so they can say anything you want them to! Pick a theme and make a set or make each coaster completely different from the rest. What You'll Need Scrabble tiles Glue gun Squares of wood or cork (about ...more
If you're not an everyday woodworker, then building a deck may be a challenge for you. But it's not as hard as it might seem. If you follow all of the required steps for deck building, you'll have one of the best ones on the block, and be pretty darn proud of it, too! So, che ...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
In this tutorial, we learn how to stain a concrete floor. To start, you will need to prepare your floor by cleaning it vigorously. Remove all dirt from the floor, then use detergent and water to wash, when finished dry with a shop vac. You will have to use a hand brush to scru ...more
I turned my first ear plug purely as a challenge when the question was asked on a turning forum and nobody could provide an answer. I didn't know much about them, only a general concept of the shape I was going after. This method does use a chuck, but I'll go over how to do i ...more
This short video tutorial Bob Schmidt will show you how to make clean cuts in wood. The blade rotation of any pretty much dictates the best way to run your material through. To get the cleanest cut possible remember these tips: Whenever you run wood through a Table saw, always ...more
Wood furniture can really add warmth to the home. However, over time the finish on these pieces of furniture may start to look dull or show light scratches allowing the finish to lose its luster. This video shows you how to polish up those wood pieces in your home so that the ...more
End grain wood is very absorbent to whatever material that is applied to it. In this how to video you will learn how to apply shellac, a maple transtint coloring agent and a topcoat to end grain wood for a beautiful maple finish.
Applying topcoat is the final step in successfully refinishing your furniture piece. Water-Based Polyurethane Topcoats are strong, durable and are favored because they dry crystal clear, allowing the beauty of the wood grain to show. However, classic varnishes and brush-appli ...more