Post Leveling Tool

By Robert Robillard

  Fence post and column level On a recent porch rehab project I had to replace the two bottom newel post.  If you ever had to replace a porch newel post or set a new mail box post or column you know that you need three hands and two levels! columns, newels and mailbox posts…

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Use A Stair Calculator

By Robert Robillard

Recently my friend Todd at Home Construction Improvement wrote an article about how to build stairs. He recently put together a sweet Excel spreadsheet that helps you quickly calculate the total number of risers, riser height and tread run for stairs. You can download the FREE Stair Calculator here. All I ask is that you…

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Cutting Deck Balusters

By Robert Robillard

This week I was rebuilding a porch and needed to make 20 porch balusters all the same size.  this article is about cutting deck balusters so they are all the exact same size! Cutting Porch Balusters: 1.  Make a stop block that is 2-3″ higher than the miter saw cutting table. 2.  Screw your miter…

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Cutting Plywood To Size Using A Saw Guide

By Robert Robillard

Cutting Plywood Sheets Making a straight in plywood can be difficult. Instead of free-hand cutting with a circular saw, using a guide can can produce table saw straight cuts. A simple shop-made guide is easy to make out of a couple of strips of plywood scrap with two clamps. There are several different types of commercial…

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How To Build A Bookcase

By Robert Robillard

Convert A Closet Into A Built-in Bookcase Recently I was asked to convert two closets into built-in storage shelves or bookcases.  This article is on How To Build A Bookcase. Both built-ins were to be painted to match the rest of the room they were going in.  I came up with a plan to built the…

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Repetitive Cuts Using A Stop Block

By Robert Robillard

Stop Blocks For Multiple Same Size Cuts It is hard to beat a crosscut fixture sled for making cross cuts SAFELY on the table saw. You can make your sled cut with  zero tolerance to the blade for less tear-out and accurate cuts. I make repetitive cuts using a stop block, here’s how. Table saws are not well…

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Setting Up Your Work Shop

By Robert Robillard

Setting Up A Work Shop or Designing A Wood Shop: Setting up your work shop or wood shop can be fun and daunting at the same time.  There are so many factors to consider as well as steps to take  to ensure that your new wood shop suits your needs. Layout Tools For Work Flow When setting…

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Start Your DIY Project Out of Sight

By Robert Robillard

Start Your Project In The Least Conspicuous Spot As a new carpenter we often joked that it was nice to “learn as you earn” and “by the time we’re done with this we’ll be a pro – but probably won’t do this for another five years and have to start from scratch again. “When doing…

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