Extreme How-To Magazine - October 2014 USA

CONTENTSO c t o b e r 2 0 1 4

F E A T U R E S

26 Fence Staining Made Easy Protect and beautify your outdoor wood—fast.

38 New Tools for Toolboxes Grab your gear and go.

50 Building a BoathouseLearn the basics from professionals with years of experience.

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E V E R Y I S S U E

From the Editor

Advertisers Index

C O L U M N S

Q & A

Tool SchoolNew and Innovative Fasteners

D E PA R T M E N T S

Do-It-YourselfDon't Flush Your Money Away

Skill SavvyFighting Mold in the Home

Hot Products

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CONTENTS

6 ExtremeHowTo.com

Cover photo courtesy Channellock

91

From TheEditor-In-ChiefLETTER

Over the weekend I had to hit the books once again. I'd discovereda plumbing leak between the upstairs and downstairs bathroomsof my house, and had to drag out my dog-eared book on the

Basics of Plumbing. I thought I'd fixed this leak the last time it mater-ialized by replacing the leaky valve stems upstairs. But lo and behold,the leak has returned, right through the ceiling drywall beneath it. I'mstill studying the problem and I’m worried that I’ll have to open up anupstairs wall to locate the leak. Since I'm no professional plumber, youcan bet I'll have that book in hand if I do.

I rely a lot on books for my home projects, both big and small. I've got books on basic electrical wiring, fundamentals of house framing,deck-building basics, introduction to welding, and working with concrete.I have a guide to woodworking, lawn care and landscaping, paintingtechniques, retaining wall construction, brickwork and masonry, tileinstallation, home energy conservation and backyard gardening. The list goes on and on, and I realize that without my how-to reference shelf, I'd often be up the creek without a paddle—and I'm the editor of a home-improvement magazine. I'm supposed to have a good workingknowledge of how to handle the topics we cover.

The truth is that I've never met anyone who is a master of every tradeunder the roof, which is exactly why most professionals specialize in acertain skillset. On the other hand, DIY homeowners often tackle a widearray of different projects that might call for plumbing one day, electricalwork the next, and drywall installation on the weekend. When tacklingthese jobs without a lot of prior experience, I highly recommend yourefer to a reliable (and current) reference book before diving in head-first. Every time I revisit a topic, I relearn something fundamental thatI'd forgotten since I don't spend every day doing the same type of work.

You'll find lots of helpful articles in the pages of Extreme How-To as well as the hundreds of stories that we've archived on our website,

Extremehowto.com. But I also recommendthat DIY'ers invest a few dollars in building ahome library of how-to books that they'll haveready at their fingertips. When a storm hits,the power fails and you can't jump online, you might be glad you've got those old-fash-ioned hard copies to walk you through therepairs of the day.

Extreme How-To (ISSN 1540-5346) is published and distributedmonthly to DIY home improvement enthusiasts by Latitude3 MediaGroup, LLC, 2300 Resource Drive, Suite B, Birmingham, AL 35242 (executive and editorial offices). All rights reserved. Neither thispublication nor any part of it may be reproduced, stored in aretrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise,without permission of Latitude3 Media Group, LLC. Subscriptions:U.S. and possessions: 1 year (9 issues – $18.97); foreign, 1 year (9 issues – $32.50) U.S. funds only. POSTMASTER: Send addresschanges to: Extreme How-To P.O. Box 4320, Oregon, IL 61061. SUBSCRIBER SERVICE: To order a subscription or change youraddress, write to Extreme How-To P.O. Box 4320, Oregon, IL 61061,or call 888-587-8911; or E-mail to [email protected]; or visitwww.extremehowto.com. To order back issues, call (205) 949.1603.

The information in Extreme How-To’s editorial content is intendedto explain and simplify home-improvement tasks. Tools, products,materials, techniques, building codes and local regulationschange; therefore, Latitude3 assumes no liability for omissions,errors or the outcome of any project. The reader must always exercise reasonable caution, follow current codes and regulationsthat may apply, and is urged to consult with a licensed professionalif in doubt about any procedures. Printed in the USA

EDITOR - IN -CHIEFMatt Weber

[email protected]

ADVISORY BOARDMonte BurchRob Robillard Larry WaltonKathy Ziprik

Mark Clement

CREATIVE DIRECTORWesley Glassco

CIRCULATIONJennifer Pentecost

PUBLISHERJeremy Hollingsworth

[email protected]

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVEJan Logan

[email protected]

ADVERTIS ING SALESMartin Smith

[email protected]

Jason [email protected]

Scott [email protected]

ONLINE MEDIA ASSISTANTSonia Griffin

BUSINESS MANAGERDusty Statham

SUBSCRIPT IONSCustomer Service

888-587-8911

PRESIDENTTrent R. Boozer

EXECUTIVE V ICE -PRESIDENTChad Gillikin

EXECUTIVE V ICE -PRESIDENTVal Carrier

Extreme How-To is published by LATITUDE3 MEDIA GROUP, LLC2300 Resource Drive, Suite B

Birmingham, AL 35242Phone 205.949.1600 • Fax 205.949.1601

www.extremehowto.com

8 ExtremeHowTo.com

www.arkestairs.com

SPIRAL STAIRSAND MODULARSTAIR CASE KITS

The OAK 70.XTRA

The Oak 70.XTRA is an adjustable premier series spiral staircase thatfeatures solid Oak wooden stair treads and landing to complementand add style to any interior living space. Surrounding the full lengthof the staircase, the horizontal balusters and railing design is visuallyunique when compared to the traditional vertical baluster design ofmost stairs. The staircase can be easily installed by the homeownerin a single day using common household tools. The Oak 70.XTRA is available in 2 diameter sizes and is available in 2 choices ofcolor…Hi-Gloss Black and Hi-Gloss White.

• Standard kit includes 12 oak wood stair treads, a landing, a complete handrail, and all necessary hardware and connectors.

• Diameters available include a 5 ft. 3 in. model and a 4 ft. 3 in. model.

• The height range for the standard kit is adjustable from 8 ft. 3 in.to 10 ft. 2 7/8 in. and with additional components, can beinstalled to a maximum height of 11 ft. 9 5/16 in.

• Powder coat finished painted in either Hi-Gloss Black or Hi-Gloss White.

• Can be installed in a clockwise or counterclockwise rotation.

• Stair treads and landing are made of solid Oak wood with a natural stain and a polyurethane protective coating.

• Balcony rail kits are available in matching color and horizontal baluster and railing design.

• Handrail is manufactured from an aluminum core surrounded by a soft PVC cover to allow the handrail to be curved at thetime of installation to accommodate the radius of the staircase.

• Rise between stair treads is adjustable from 8 3/8 in. to 9 ¼ in.

• Interior installation only.

• A complete installation guide is included in all kits and an installation video is available upon request.

• Homeowner should consult with local building department concerning building codes prior to purchase.

AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT THE USA, ARKESPIRAL AND MODULAR STAIRCASE KITSCAN BE BUILT IN A DAY BY THE AVERAGE DO-IT-YOURSELF HOME ENTHUSIAST.

�

Questions About Home Building, Remodeling? Have Your OwnHow-To Tip? Visit our blog at blog.extremehowto.comand click on Ask Our Experts.

Gota?QA&Q:What are the symptoms of a blown head gasket on a car engine?

A:The only externally visible sign of a blown head gasket would be coolant leaking from the head gasketbetween the combustion chamber and the coolant passage in your engine. Look below the exhaust

manifold for signs of leakage. On the intake stroke of the cylinder closest to the leak, coolant will be drawn in by the vacuum of the intake air charge. Upon combustion, the high pressure will force exhaust gases past thehead gasket into the coolant passage. As coolant is pulled into the combustion chamber it will cause your coolantlevel to drop. This can cause a low coolant light and overheating if the cooling system on your vehicle is not con-tinually topped off. Also, once your engine is turned off, the coolant still left in the engine cylinder will seep pastyour piston rings into your engine oil. Coolant mixed with oil will make a white, milky substance. You may see thison your oil dipstick or on a ring around your oil cap. Also, look for white smoke from the exhaust pipe, or bubblesin the radiator or coolant overflow tank. — Source: gobluedevil.com/blog.

Q:Can I use 2x8 treated lumber as deck boards?

A:No, that's a not a good idea. Lumber wider than 6 inches should not be used as a flat surface. Wide, flat boards have a tendency to pool rain water, which can lead to cupping problems. Stick with 2x6 or

5/4 deck boards.

10 ExtremeHowTo.com

Questions About Home Building, Remodeling? Have Your OwnHow-To Tip? Visit our blog at blog.extremehowto.comand click on Ask Our Experts.

Gota?QA&Q:What's the best way to keep new tile grout clean?

A:Cementitious grout is subject to staining because it is a porous material. Most professionals recommendapplying a sealer after the grout has cured, typically in three days. The sealer should be reapplied period-

ically to maintain an enhancedlevel of stain resistance.Additionally, some newer groutformulations are stain-resistantright out of the pail againstcommon household stainingagents. Also, check the product packaging for indications of Microban anti-microbial protection that resists the growth of mold and mildew on dried grout.

Q:How can I keep miceout of my dryer vent?

A:Replace the dryer vent on the outside

of your house with a two-partdryer vent seal. The plasticvent seal costs roughly $15and can easily be installed witha screwdriver and a little latexcaulk. First, remove the oldvent, apply caulk, and fastenthe elbow of the new vent withscrews so it's directed upward.Then, attach the floating cupthat covers the vent body, protecting it from rain andkeeping out rodents. Clean out the lint every three months. EHT

12 ExtremeHowTo.com

TOOL SCHOOL

Fasteners hold together every-thing we build. These are theunsung heroes of construction,

because when fasteners fail, thingsfall apart. Modern technology givesus a wider variety of innovativefasteners with more holding powerthan ever. Here are some high-lights of the latest on the market.

GRK VINYL WINDOW SCREW

The Vinyl Window Screw fromGRK Fasteners replaces shims invinyl window installation, allowinginstallers to adjust the windowuntil plumb. No predrilling isrequired; the engineered Zip-Tippoint lets you start driving rightaway. The Vinyl Window Screw features a W-Cut thread design to cut into underlying wood, as

well as a patented washer trap-ping head that is powder-coatedwhite. The edge design beneaththe head captures the vinyl strapat the time of penetration, and the screw's Climatek coatingreduces the possibility of corro-sion. The recessed star-drive head ensures zero stripping, evenin hardwoods, and two sizes areavailable: 2-1/2- and 2-3/4-in. in length in a #9 diameter. Visitwww.grkfasteners.com.

SCREW PRODUCTS WHITE TRIM HEAD SCREWS

Screw Products, Inc. has addeda new fastener to its extensiveproduct line: “white head” trimhead screws, an exterior/interiormulti-purpose screw appropriatefor a wide range of projects. Thesefasteners may be used with ACQand CCA pressure-treated lumberthanks to a proprietary coating

designed to protect against corro-sion, and that has withstood1,200 hours of salt spray testing.In addition, they are ideal formaterials with a white finishincluding decking, fascia, fencing,siding, trim and more. Available in multiple sizes—9x1-5/8, 9x2,9x1/2 and 9x3—these screws canalso be ordered in various quanti-ties, including jars and pails, andeach package includes a free T-20drill bit. Visit screw-porducts.com.

New and Innovative Fasteners

By Matt Weber

14 www.extremehowto.com

Hold it Together

TOOL SCHOOL


SPLITSTOP COMPOSITEFASCIA INSTALLATIONSYSTEM

Titan’s newest addition, theSplitStop Fascia InstallationSystem, employs the use of twospecially designed components; a counter-boring tool (Fascia Bit)and a head-painted stainless steelfastener (Fascia Screw). Usedtogether, this two-part systemallows the installer to “hang” com-posite fascia boards to the normaltreated rim-joists of a deck. Thisinstallation method has proven tovirtually eliminate broken screwsand fascia board buckling (warp-ing), which is the inevitable resultof applying thermally expandingcomposite fascia materials towooden rim-joist boards thatshrink, due to moisture loss. This opposing movement hasplagued composite fascia board

installers, consumers and manu-facturers for years, the result ofwhich, to this point, has promptedthe use of an excessive number ofscrews, an unsightly attempt at asolution. Titan’s simple change ininstallation technique will save oncomplaints (and customer call-backs) related to composite

fascia boards. Fascia screws are head-painted in five stand-ard colors, including white, to coordinate with most com-posite fascia boards. Visit splitstop.com.

MAX STRENGTH DUCKTAPE & NO RESIDUEDUCK TAPE

Duck Tape is seen as a greatgeneral purpose tool for tempo-rary around-the-house repairs, butit can also be tough enough touse in heavy-duty projects. Duckbrand expands its line of repair-and-project Duck Tape with twonew heavy-duty tools: MaxStrength and No Residue DuckTape. For the projects that requireincreased strength and durability,all-weather Max Strength Duck

Tape provides superior adhesion,strength and flexibility, plus, it’sUV-resistant.

Bundling, hanging and maskingfor DIY projects can be a messyand frustrating process, but thenew No Residue Duck Tape has aspecialty adhesive that allows theproduct to remove from mostopaque surfaces with no messyresidue for up to six months, mak-ing it ideal for long-term, heavy-duty indoor and outdoor applica-tions. Visit www.duckbrand.com.

SUBLOC PRO SCRAILSubLoc PRO Scrail subfloor fas-

teners have a thick upper-diame-ter thread design for withdrawalvalues far superior to ordinary fasteners, and 35 to 45-percent

better than regular SubLoc Scrailfasteners. They prevent squeaksdue to micro movements of woodagainst the shank. The collatedthreaded fasteners are driven likenails with a pneumatic nailer, butcan be removed like screws with

TOOL SCHOOL


Versa Drive bits (combination of#2 Phillip & #2 Square). SubLocPRO Scrails are available in allthree collation styles: 20- and 33-deg. strip and 15-deg. wire coil.

Full code compliance assurancehas been given to SubLoc PROScrail by the IAPMO, the foremostsource of uniform codes and stan-dards used by building officials

across the nation. With head pull-through values more than 10 per-cent higher than ring-shank nails,and withdrawal values that aremore than 40 percent higher thanring-shanks, SubLoc PRO Scrail isa premier product for profession-als. Visit www.fascoamerica.com.

FASTENMASTER TRIOULTIMATE DECK SCREW

Designed to outperform stan-dard deck screws for both soft-wood and composite decking,these screws are also engineeredto eliminate stripping and wobblingduring installation. Additionally,their coating makes them highlyresistant to corrosion and UV-resistant to fading, and is backed

by a lifetime guarantee. The con-tainer packaging also doubles as an installation guide for speed and accuracy. Visit www.fastenmaster.com.

UPGRADED ELIMINATORRCS TOOL & MANTISHIDDEN DECK CLIPS

When it comes to building yourdream deck, the installationprocess should be quick, efficientand easy, whether you’re a profes-sional or a do-it-yourselfer. That’swhy Sure Drive invented theEliminator RCS pneumatic tool,which works with the company'sMantis fasteners to speed up hid-den deck-clip installation by 75percent. The Sure Drive engineer-ing team recently developed newmodifications to the EliminatorRCS system based on user feed-back. Deck builders noticed thetool would sometimes jam

TOOL SCHOOL


because the angles of the nailsand Mantis clips weren't identical.The redesigned feeder rail pre-cisely matches the angle of theMantis clip countersink andimproves how the rail holds theclip, making it more secure andeliminating mis-feeds. Contractorsformerly needed to dial back theirair compressors (typically 110-120 lbs. of pressure) for theMantis clip installation (75-85 lbs.of pressure), which was inconven-ient and time-consuming. Themodified driver blade now accom-modates air pressure between 75and 120 lbs., allowing builders touse this tool without having toadjust. Sure Drive also beefed upthe slide attachment with thickerstainless steel and specialty lock-ing fasteners, making it strongerand more durable. Plus, small,rare earth magnets have beenadded to hold the clip firmly inplace. Visit www.suredrive.com.

SCOTCH EXTREMEFASTENERS

3M’s Scotch Brand offers a line of home fastening and mounting products, including thenew Extreme Fasteners. These

new hook-and-loop style fasteningstrips lock three times stronger

than Velcro Industrial StrengthFasteners, and they’re

designed to withstandeven the harshestconditions once theadhesive backing

is bonded, including rain, mudand dirt. The Extreme Fastenersfeature 3M Dual Lock Technology

that click together to secure itemsup to 10 lbs. in place. ExtremeFasteners can be used to secureunder cabinet lighting, hang abirdhouse outside, hold a toolkit or other heavy object on the wall, and much more. VisitFasteners.Scotchbrand.com.

TOP STAR SHIM SCREW

The Top Star Shim Screw fromGRK has an ingenious two-piecedesign that creates a “screw with-in a screw” to reduce labor for theplumb installation of window anddoor frames (jambs), paneling andbuilt-in cabinets. When locked, the Top Star gets driven into thematerial, and when unlocked, theinstalled Top Star is ready for lev-eling. The fastener's inner screwturns independently from the

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TOOL SCHOOL

outer portion of the fastener foreasy adjustment without shims.First, drill a pilot hole for thescrew and then drive the Top Starwith GRK’s crown bit through thejamb into the rough-opening

frame until flush. Slide off thecrown bit to reveal the inner starbit. Use the star bit to adjust thejamb in and out of the frame until flush. This system of doorinstallation is much faster thanusing wood shims to make fineadjustments. As an added func-tion, after the door has been used for years, opening, closingand slamming the doors can take a toll, even with shims, causing the door to go out ofplumb. If installed with the Top-Star Shim Screw, all one has todo is adjust the screw back to its plumb position. Visit www.grkfasteners.com.

SENCO COLLATEDSCREWS

SENCO has the widest varietyof collated screws available, and


24 of the company's self-piercing,self-drilling tapping screws nowmeet the 2009 and 2012International Building Code (IBC)and International Residential Code

(IRC) codes. The fasteners arecommonly used for connectionsinvolving cold formed steel fram-ing. Common applications includejoining drywall/gypsum sheathing

to steel, steel to steel framing,steel sheathing to steel framing,and certain wood to steel framing.Visit www.senco.com.

EDGETITE HARDSCAPESPIKE

Whether creating a walkway orpatio, Edgetite Spikes can makelandscaping projects quicker andmore efficient for paver edging.

The spikes helpsolve separationproblems that canoccur when usingregular spikesdesigned for paveredging. Edgetitespikes are uniquebecause of theirpatent-pendingangled tip design.As an Edgetitespike is ham-mered into thecompacted base,the angled tipdeflects away fromthe installation,while the headpushes the edgerestraint tightlyagainst the brick.The angled finalposition of an

installed Edgetite spike resistsfrost heave, while adding strength and longevity. Visitwww.edgetite.com.

TOOL SCHOOL


EHT


It's no secret that outdoor wood requires routine maintenance to keepit in good shape. In the shade it's susceptible to mildew, and in the sunit's punished by ultraviolet rays that give it that aged, gray appearance.

To maintain its beauty the wood must be periodically cleaned and preserved, and DIY homeowners are always looking for a better way to

get the job done. When it came time to re-stain a shadowbox fence, I wantedto work smarter rather than harder, so I tried a promising

product called Ready Seal. This is an oil-based semi-trans-parent wood stain and sealer in one. Ready Seal is a pro-fessional-grade product, but is formulated with unique“goof proof” features that make it especially attractivefor do-it-yourselfers.

Typical wood stains require back-brushing to smoothout runs, streaks and brush marks and to work the coat-

ing into the grain. I was dreading this part of the job.Spraying typical wood stains requires spraying one sec-

tion of the project at a time and immediately back-brushingthe area to prevent lap marks or runs. The back-brushing

process requires a helper, or it requires the person spraying toserve double-duty by performing both jobs. This involves a great

deal of labor, especially on vertical surfaces such as fences. If you elim-inate the back-brushing, you eliminate half the work, making the projectmuch easier for a lone DIY’er like myself. Ready Seal is formulated torequire no back-brushing, and that’s the selling point that convinced meto try the product.

FENCESTAININGMADEEASY


By Matt Weber

Protect

and beautify

your outdoor

wood—fast.

Plus, the product is a penetrat-ing sealer, which I prefer over thefilm-forming type. Instead of form-ing a rigid film on the wood sur-face, Ready Seal penetrates deepinto wood fibers with waterproof-ing oils to create a flexible barrierthat keeps moisture out. The oilsexpand and contract so the coat-ing won’t crack, chip, flake orpeel, which can lead to failure.

It turns out that it’s also easy to apply with an airless sprayer.Whereas some finishing productsrequire a multi-step applicationprocess, Ready Seal is formulatedto add color and seal the woodfrom moisture in one step. Thissaves time, money and sweat.

CLEAN THE WOODSURFACE

Over time a fence can accumu-late all sorts of grime on the woodsurface. From airborne dirt, pollen,mildew or even mold, all this gunkdeteriorates the look of the woodand if left neglected can eventual-ly lead to rot. All the loose grimeshould be cleaned away. One

method is to use a long-handledscrub brush with a wood deter-gent and even follow up with a wood brightener to open thegrain to accept new preservative.You can't skip the cleaning step or even skimp on the work. If you apply stain/sealer over grimeor mildew, you aren't staining afence, you're staining the grime. It will look ugly, the coating won'tabsorb evenly, it won't have theproper preservative properties,and it will come off the fencewhen the grime detaches.

An alternative method to clean-ing the fence is to use a pressure-washer. The high-pressure waterstream not only blasts away grimeand mildew but it can peel awaythe outer layer of the wood's deadgray cells and expose the lighter,fresher wood grain.

Whereas some professionalsadvise against using a pressure-washer on outdoor wood decks, Ithrow that advice out the windowwhen it comes to a fence. Theconventional wisdom suggests thehigh-pressure water can damage

the woodgrain, giving it a fuzzyappearance and texture. This isprimarily a concern for walkingsurfaces because homeownerstypically want smooth deck boardswith little chance of picking up asplinter when walking barefoot.Nobody walks on a fence, though,so I say blast away.

When using a power-washer,carefully work in the direction ofthe grain—never against it, whichcan result in a noticeable cutacross the wood.

PREP THE SPRAYERThe easiest, most productive

way to spray a very large projectlike this is to use an airlesssprayer. An airless unit drawsstain or paint directly from a paintcanister and sprays at pressuresup to 1,700 PSI.

Whether you're purchasing,renting or borrowing one of theseunits, it's important to understandthey require additional care tomake sure they're in proper work-ing order. Airless sprayers must beflushed and tested each time a


Outdoor wood accumulates all sorts of dirt and grime, so thesurface must be thoroughly cleaned before staining and sealing.


new job is started to ensure nocontaminants from previous jobswill mix with the product you intendto apply. Follow the sprayer manu-facturer's instructions for circulat-ing the solvent used to clean the

equipment. For latex paints, manypros prefer to use clean water, butan oil-based stain like this requiresmineral spirits.

Once the system has beenflushed and drained, you can load

the stain/sealer of your choice. Mixthe product thoroughly and strainthe stain/sealer through a paintscreen to keep solid particles outof the system.

Before spraying the new coating,discharge the sprayer into a bucketto flush all the mineral spirits outof the hose. Hold the trigger untilthe gun begins to spray the stain

you plan to apply, otherwise you'llend up hosing down your projectwith mineral spirits.

APPLYING THESTAIN/SEALER

Movement is extremely impor-tant when using an airless sprayer.To avoid excessive stain accumula-tion, don't pull the trigger unless


First step is to pressure-wash thefence to rejuvenate the wood.

I used the Hyde Pivot NozzleWand, which pivots with the twistof the handle to direct the waterstream where you want it.


Now there’s a proven, affordable way to extend the home’s hardwood flooring to the outside living area.

Deck-A-Floor is the patent-pending composite timber system that requires no screws, joints, or nails to install. The revolutionarysystem mimics the luxury look of exotic hardwoods right down to the timber’s subtle color variations. Architects, designers, andhomeowners like the rich, authentic hardwood look that’s nearly impervious to sun, wind, rain, snow, temperature extremes, aswell as stains, scratches and other entertaining hazards.

The 40-inch long flooring boards snap-in-place to a grid system easily configured to nearly any design requirement. Have a uniqueoutdoor pattern in mind? No problem. It’s easy to showcase flooring creativity and a stylish hardwood look with Deck-A-Floor.

• Perfect for decks, patios, or pool surrounds ● Stain-proof, scratch-resistant ● Nearly maintenance-free – no sanding, staining, or painting ● Hardwood looks in Westminster gray, Spanish walnut, and Peruvian teak ● 25-year limited warranty

Homeowner Eric Anderson of Charlotte, N.C. says: “Deck A Floor is perfect. Our porch has hardwood beauty without maintenance headaches.”

Beautify exterior environments with the luxury look of hardwood with the durability and versatility of Deck-A-Floor. Available now exclusively through The Home Depot.

NewTechWood281-570-6450www.newtechwood.com

Beautify Exterior Design with a Luxury Hardwood Look 1. Position 2. Click 3. Admire


the gun is in motion. Squeeze the triggeras you move into a spraying pass over thework surface. Keep your wrist straightand the spray nozzle parallel to the fenceboards for consistent application (ratherthan flexing your wrist and swinging thegun, which causes overspray). Start at the top and work downward.

For applying oil-based stain, I recom-mend using a .011-.013-in. tip size for the spray gun.

Don't forget to apply the coating to the end grain of the boards,which really drinks up mois-ture and requires extra protection.

Once the job is over, followthe manufacturer's instruc-tions for cleaning and flush-ing the machine using theappropriate solvent. This isan absolutely critical stepand ensures the airless

After the fence dries from the washing, itbecomes evident how much dead woodand grime pressure-washing can remove.

Airless sprayers must be flushed and tested each time a new job is started.



It’s always best to strain thestain/sealer when using an airlesssprayer to keep solid particles outof the system.

sprayer will be properly stored with-out contaminants that gunk up thesystem, so it will be ready for the next job.

Spraying the fence was easy, but back-brushing the stain waseven easier (no back-brushingrequired!).


• Treated Pine With MoistureShield and Cedar Tone Colorant

• Cedar

• Lumberock Composite• Vinyl• Rail and Post Assemblies• Stair Cases

ENGINEERED DECKSBY TOP DECK618-977-3001

45 Larkspur Dr. | Belleville, IL | 62221

ENGINEERED DECKSBY TOP DECK

FINALLY HIGH QUALITY DECK KITSEasily Installed Deck Components


When prepping outdoor wood for refinishing, the most direct way to renew the appearance isto sand or pressure-wash the surface. However,sanding can be difficult and time-consuming for large areas, and pressure-washing must be approached with caution. The problem withpressure-washing is that too much pressure candamage the wood surface, removing the gray andgreen but causing the surface to fuzz or splinter.This can not only affect the wood’s appearance, but can pose a “touch” hazard for areas such asdeck surfaces where people may walk barefoot.When using a power-washer, limit your pressure to no more than 1,000 or 1,200 PSI and carefullywork in the direction of the grain—never against it.

For smaller surfaces that need a touch-friendly surface, such as chairs, swings and benches, sanding is the best way to go. Use a random orbital sander and start with an 80-grit abrasive for material removal.Gradually progress to finer abrasives until the wood surface is smooth enough for a new coat of stain/sealer.

SMOOTH MOVES

To minimize runs and overspray,keep the sprayer nozzle 10" to12" away from the surfacewhen applying the stain.

In the end, the project was a suc-cess. After a day of spraying ReadySeal’s redwood tone stain/sealer,the fence looked good as new. Notbad for a one-man job.

Editor's Note: Special thanks to Ready Seal for providing thestain/sealer for this product. The results were fantastic. Visitwww.readyseal.com.


EHT

At the end of the project theresults looked great, and I wasable to save lots of time and laborby not having to back-brush.


CHANNELLOCK PROFESSIONAL MULTI-PURPOSE WELDER’S PLIERChannellock now offers a high-quality, domestic plier for welders with its new Channellock 9” 360

Professional Multi-Purpose Welder’s Plier. Designed as an ideal six-in-one plier, the 360 Welder’s Plier is12 ounces of drop-forged, high-carbon C1080 North American steel. Channellock improved the design oftraditional welder’s pliers by applying its high-leverage technology—positioning the rivet closer to the

head. This design provides more cutting power to the laser heat-treated edges to slicethrough weld wire. Additional improved features of the spring-

loaded plier include a groove-nose design for quickspatter removal, as well as a unique diamond-shapewelder tip installation and removal tool that preventsstripping by gripping four sides of the welder tip. A

precision-machined, laser heat-treated, knife-and-anvilcutting edge ensures superior long-term cutting performance. Plus, an

elongated nose with cross-hatch grips is designed for secure draw-ing of wire or gripping of hot metal. Visit www.channellock.


NEW TOOLS FORTOOLBOXESEver since the first caveman broke open a nut with a rock, we've used tools

for anything and everything at work and at home. Lucky for us, mankindhas come a long way and we now live in an age of advanced technology

and pre-shelled peanuts. Here's a roundup of some of the latest and greatesthand tools to throw in your trusty toolbox.

Ever since the first caveman broke open a nut with a rock, we've used toolsfor anything and everything at work and at home. Lucky for us, mankindhas come a long way and we now live in an age of advanced technology

and pre-shelled peanuts. Here's a roundup of some of the latest and greatesthand tools to throw in your trusty toolbox.

GENERAL 8-IN-1 LIGHTED PRECISIONSCREWDRIVER

General Tools’s new 8-in-1Lighted Precision Screwdriver(75108) features two powerful,bright white LEDs combined witha transparent collar to provide360-degree lighting. The tool alsofeatures a secondary removablemini screwdriver and an ergonom-ic cushioned grip with rotatingcap. A convenient bit storage compartment in the precisionengineered handle keeps allincluded bits together, reducing

the risk of lost or misplaced parts. The screwdriver comes with four double-ended bits:Slotted: 1/8” and 5/64”; Phillips:#000 and #0; Torx: T5 and T8;and Torx: T6 and T10. Visitwww.generaltools.com.

SUPER COMBO SCISSORSThe Super Combo Scissors

(VT-011R) from Vampire Tools are high-quality, 4-in-1 scissors for industrial and home use. Thecutting edges are sharp, andmicro-serrations provide a firmgrip during cutting. Super ComboScissors are a compact yet strong

cutting instrument that incorpo-rates four functions in one scis-sors: flat blade cutting, micro-ser-rated blade for cutting withoutslippage, wire cutting and boxopener. The ergonomic handle is designed for comfortable non-slip grip and includes a specialfeature to prevent finger pinching(patent-pending). The S-shapegrips are designed to convey maximum applied power to theblades. Vampire ProfessionalTools also offers personalizationof Super Combo Scissors for safekeeping or gifting purposes.Personalization implies mark-ing the jaw of the pliers with up to 12 characters. Visit www.vampiretools.com.

HYDE GLASS SCRAPERSWITH BLADES STORED IN THE HANDLE

Here’s a handy, retractableglass scraper with built-in bladestorage, so you’ll never find your-self groping through rusty bladesat the bottom of your toolbox. TheHyde Glass Scraper #13040 is

ideal for removing coatings, paintand stickers from glass, mirrors orwindshields. Its rubberized bodyprovides a safe, sure grip—and itcomes with five single-edge razorblades tucked into the handle. It's very handy for a quick bladechange right on the spot. Forsmall applications like windowmullions, choose the Hyde MiniGlass Scraper #13030, whichalso stores 5 razor blades in thehandle. Visit www.hydetools.com.


NEW TOOLS FORTOOLBOXES

MILWAUKEE LOCKINGTOOLS WITH TORQUE LOCK

Milwaukee Tool's new lockingtools dramatically increase produc-tivity for the user. Featuring thepatent-pending Torque Lock adjust-ment system, the new MilwaukeeLocking Pliers and Locking C-Clamps deliver an innovative solu-tion for adjusting the size of thegripping jaws while secured tomaterial. This gives the user theability to produce maximum lock-ing force with a much faster andcontrolled set up.

“As we spent time on the job-site investigating this category, we found that many users weremodifying their locking tools bywelding a loop on the back end ofthe thumb screw. This created away to set up their tool faster andproduce the necessary holdingforce with a screwdriver,” says RyanSchwoegler, product manager forMilwaukee Tool. “Inspired by thisinventive user modification, ourTorque Lock Locking Tools featurea thumb screw with a more con-venient geometry for hand forceand a unique screwdriver through-hole design to produce maximumlocking force.” Visit www.milwaukeetool.com.

CHANNELLOCKPROFESSIONAL PLIER TOOL ROLL

Channellock has combined itsmost popular tools in a single giftset. The new tool rolls are 100-per-cent made in America and are a

great starter set for Pros andDIY'ers of all levels. The Tool Roll-3 5-pc. Professional Plier Setincludes: the 7” High LeverageDiagonal Lap Joint Cutting Plier(337); the 9.5” Straight Jaw Tongue & Groove Plier (420); the 10” Straight Jaw Tongue &Groove Plier (430); the 6.5” SlipJoint Plier (526); and the 8” LongNose Plier (3017). Each tool ismanufactured with high-carbonC1080 steel for superior perform-ance on the job and specially coat-ed for ultimate rust prevention.Laser heat-treated teeth and cut-ting edges ensure longer life, andthe Channellock Blue grips aredesigned for comfortable extendeduse. Visit www.channellock.com.

GENERAL BF20 CIRCUITBREAKER FINDER

General Tool's new BF20 CircuitBreaker Finder includes an NCVDetector and GFCI Outlet Checker.This tool makes it easy to identifythe circuit breaker associated withany 110V AC outlet. Safely deter-mine whether a line, cable or 110Voutlet is “hot” (energized). Identifywiring faults on GFCI and non-GFCIreceptacles, and verify the opera-tion of GFCI circuits interruptingpower. Start by plugging the trans-mitter unit into any 110V GFCI ornon-GFCI receptacle. After check-ing the outlet for several commonwiring errors, the transmitter sendsan RF signal down the circuit’s

wires back to the breaker box. Atthe breaker box, begin scanningwith the receiver unit. A green LED on the receiver will light, andthe socket that the transmitter isplugged into will be identified. An innovative circuit in the BF20eliminates the “false positives” that weaker technologies likeinductive coupling often produce.Visit www.generaltools.com.

STARRETT 7-PIECEDIAMOND TILE HOLE SAW KIT

L. S. Starrett's KD2000TD1 7-Piece Diamond Tile Hole Saw Kit isa great kit to have in any toolbox. It will fit in a small corner of thetool box and provide six drill sizes(3/16", 15/64", 1/4", 5/16", 3/8",and 1/2") that fit standard drillchucks. Included in the kit is aknockout pin to clear slugs fromthe saw body. These saws areexcellent tools for the craftsmanrequiring access points for specialwiring, cable, conduit or other mod-ern design requirements. The holesaws have a uniform coating of synthetic diamonds bound to adurable steel saw body. They



provide exceptional performanceat high cutting speeds and pro-duce accurate clean cuts in glass,brick, ceramic tile and stone. Thediamond-edge saws allow extend-ed cutting time when used withwater lubricant to cool the cuttingsurface. Visit www.starrett.com.

WOOSTER PELICAN Reduce trips up and down the

ladder with the Wooster Pelican, a handheld pail that securelyholds a brush and mini-roller soyou can paint faster than everbefore. A powerful magnet insidethe bucket holds a brush at theready. Molded underneath theplastic, the magnet won’t rust ortrap paint. The Pelican also has abuilt-in roller grid, 5-1/2” wide,with aggressive ribbing to make

loading easy. Cut in with yourbrush and follow with the roller.The comfortable security strapallows the pail to rest easily in onehand, and elastomer side inden-tions provide better grip and con-trol. Made of durable polypropy-lene, the Pelican pail cleans easily.Wooster also offers disposablePelican liners. Rigid and form-fit-ting, the liners make colorchanges and cleanup a breeze.Visit www.woosterbrush.com.

HYDE 9-1/2” MINI BENT PRY BAR, DOZENS OF USES

Remove molding, open boxes,scrape paint and pull nails with

this convenient mini-prybar from Hyde.You’ll find dozens ofuses, but removingmolding or pulling nailswithout damaging awall are some of itsbest. The Hyde Pry Bar#45600 is made ofhigh-carbon steel, andhas been hardenedand tempered forstrength. It is also electro-coated to resist rust for years of use. It has a nail slot for pulling nailsand ground ends for scraping. Visitwww.hydetools.com.

WISS FLIP JOINTThe new Flip Joint Cable Cutter

from Wiss is a 3-in-1 electrician'stool designed for a fast way to cut, slice and strip cable. This new, 8” tool allows professionalsto cut with the cable cutter, slicewith the sheath knife and stripvinyl-coated wires with the wirestripper. It provides a convenientway for professional tradespeopleto minimize the number of tools



needed for the job. First, in cablecutter mode, cut vinyl coated elec-trical wire such as Romex cable tolength. Second, flip the handle toexpose the specially-designed ultra-sharp cable sheath knife and slicethrough the sheathing to exposethe wires. Finally, flip the handleback to strip the wires. Integratednotches in the blade strip wire easi-ly and can also be used to cutsmaller wires. Visitwww.wisstool.com.

CORDLESS PRECISIONENGRAVER

The enhanced Cordless Precision Engraver (505) fromGeneral Tools & Instruments features a 20,000-RPM motor that runs on just two AAA batteries. With its 3/32” diamond-tipped engraving bit, the tool is powerful enough to engrave glass, metal, cer-amic, plastic and wood. Theengraver’s improved gearing boosts torque to facilitatesmoother, more consistent scribing. Users can easily

protect all types of valuables withidentifying markings or even per-sonalize items with delicate preci-sion. Visit www.generaltools.com.

TG TOOLS BRAD POINT BITS

An innovative concept in brad-point design comes from TG Tools.The Kik brad-point bits are tippedwith six cutting edges to provide20-percent more cutting surfacewhen compared to standard brad-points. This means the Kik bitsbore faster, cleaner and last longerdue to decreased wear. In fact, the tip cuts so aggressively that itnecessitated an extraction ridgeinside the flutes to remove materialquickly and prevent heat buildup.Visit www.mytgtools.com.

3-IN-ONE OIL WITHMARKSMAN TELESCOPINGSPOUT

While the multi-purpose oil is still the same formula that’s beenused and trusted for years, WD-40Company created a spout with an

extra 6 inches of flexibilitythat provides precise con-trol—even in hard-to-reach places. 3-In-One's newTelescoping MarksmanSpout product includes

the new ergonomicallyshaped bottle that easi-

ly fits in toolboxesand tool belts. Aclear product-fillindicator makes iteasy to see whenit's time to buy anew bottle. 3-In-Oil lubricates,cleans and pene-trates rust. Visitwww.3inone.com.

LIE-NIELSEN ADJUSTABLEMOUTH BLOCK PLANE

The Lie-Nielsen AdjustableMouth Block Plane is useful forevery sort of woodworking job anda pleasure to use. The moveableshoe in front of the blade allowsyou to easily and precisely adjustthe mouth opening: fine mouth forfinishing work and thin shavings, or ample opening for rank cuts. The body is ground flat and squareto a tolerance of .001” or better,and the blade is adjusted with acaptive nut for precise control withminimal backlash. As with all Lie-Nielsen tools, this versatile blockplane is made in the USA to thehighest quality standards, andguaranteed to last a lifetime. Visit. www.lie-nielsen.com.


CHANNELLOCK E SERIES PLIERS

The Channellock E Series is anew line of combination, long-nose and diagonal cutting plierswith an entirely new, sleekerdesign than the manufacturer’straditional pliers. Each of the 18 new pliers in the E Series lineis manufactured with XtremeLeverage Technology (XLT).Exclusive to Channellock, XLT positions the plier rivet closer to the plier head so that con-siderably less force is required to make clean, accurate cuts.Additionally, each E Series plierfeatures knife-and-anvil cuttingedges to ensure proper cutting-edge alignment and clean cuts;cross-hatched jaws for improvedgrip; laser heat-treated cuttingedges for extended durability; and a choice of Channellock

Blue comfort grips or Code Blue grips for secure and com-fortable gripping power. Visit www.channellock.com.

SWANSON SPEED BEVELSwanson's Speed Bevel is the

first tool that transforms instantlyfrom a Speed Square into a slid-ing T-bevel—two of the most usedtools by builders, remodelers andcarpenters. Made from light-weight, high-impact ABS compos-ite, it’s actually five tools in one; a framing/rafter square, a trysquare, a miter square, an anglefinder/ protractor and a T-bevel.You can easily transfer anglesfrom an inside wall corner or anoutside junction by loosening thethumb screw and adjusting theSpeed Bevel so the blade andhandle fit snugly against the two

surfaces. Simply tighten the screw and you’ve got the preciseangle you need. For an exactangle, place the Speed Bevel on a protractor, loosen the thumb screw and adjust it to any angle you want. Visitwww.swansontoolco.com.

NEW DEWALT CHALK REELS

The DeWalt Premium ChalkReel (DWHT47270 ) features a 6:1gear ratio for smooth and rapidwinding. A durable helical gearsystem, as opposed to the stan-dard gears in many reels on themarket, provides smooth, quiet




action and is less prone to line jams and breaks. The gearsystem is sealed to help prevent debris from clogging themechanism. The body is cast metal for durability, and inter-locking hooks easily join lines for productivity. The CompactChalk Reel Blue Kit (DWHT47257L) is ideal for a second-ary reel or correction reel with 30-ft. braided line. Thebody is 50-percent smaller than the current DeWaltreel, and features a 3:1 gear ratio for quick lineretraction. The gear mechanism features aclutch design for fast, easy unwinding. TheDie-Cast Chalk Reel (DWHT47256) is aheavy-duty tool with an aluminum die-cast body and a stainless steel hook andcrank arm. For sites where extra-longlines need to be snapped, the DeWaltLarge Capacity Reel (DWHT47252)holds up to a pound of chalk, and its150-ft. braided cotton line is longenough and durable enough for almostany job. The DeWalt DWHT47142 is thecompany's 100-ft. version. Visitwww.dewalt.com. EHT


Learn the basics from

professionals with years of experience.


BUILDING ABOATHOUSEBy Matt Weber

Adock is essentially a deck built on piles in thewater, and a boathouse is a specialized struc-ture built on top of the dock. Whereas building

a deck is a popular project for serious do-it-your-selfers, building a boathouse—especially a big one—requires heavy-duty machinery like a barge mountedwith a huge winch-operated pile driver. Althoughmuch of this project is outside the realm the do-it-yourselfer, we thought our readers would be interest-ed to see how it's accomplished.

THE RIGHT MATERIALSYou can’t simply stick any old wood near the

water and expect it to hold up. For this project the dock-builders at Tradesman Co. of Pell City,Alabama, chose lumber from the EverwoodTreatment Company, which uses Wolmanized® copper azole preservative treatment, treated withmicronized CA-C for Ground Contact as well as forFreshwater Immersion, meeting all building coderequirements. It’s a great building material for


Special thanks to Fred Casey of Tradesman Co.and his construction crew, Earl and Jack,

for their work on this project.

docks, decks, retaining walls,fences, picnic tables, planterboxes, walkways, sill plate andstructural members. The lumber’sS4S designation means it’s sanded on four sides for a fin-ished, professional look. And,Wolmanized Outdoor® wood hasearned the Good HousekeepingSeal, has been certified by HomeInnovation Research Labs as

meeting requirements for termite-resistant materials in the NationalGreen Building Standard™, andhas been verified by the interna-tionally recognized EcoSpecifier. It comes with a limited warrantyfor most residential applicationsand, to top it off, it costs less than alternatives such as tropicalhardwoods and artificial wood.

By using hand-picked No. 1grade lumber, the dock ownergets only the best looking boardswith fewer knots and imperfec-tions from the lumberyard.

BRING ON THE BARGEThe first construction crew

arrives at the jobsite by water.One boat carries the piles that will support the boathouse, andanother one carries the crane-like pile driver to install them.

One at a time, a steel cable is used to hoist a pole from thestockpile, and the barge is usedto float it over to its intended loca-tion. The crew spots the layoutand lowers pole-anchors to holdthe barge steady on the lake floor.

A worker positions the post,plumbs it up, and the crane oper-ator drops a doubled iron plateonto the top to hammer it down.

Before seeing this in action, Iwas curious: Do the installers cutthe end of the piles at some sortof sharp angle for easier entryinto the lake bottom? The answeris no. The workers plant the bluntend of the massive round polesright where they want it, and thepile driver hammers it in withsheer brute force.


BUILDING ABOATHOUSE

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Using string-lines to follow layout,the barge crew lines up all theposts necessary and drives them in position with the mighty anvil. It's pretty cool to watch.

The remainder of the dock iserected much like a well-built deck, with a system of beams (or girders), joists and 5/4 deckboards. Of course, one of the

primary differences is that youhave to swim to the work. Thankgoodness for reliable cordless toolswith lithium-ion batteries.

As with any framing project, thestructural components have to staydead-on layout, completely plumband square. To keep everything inplace during assembly, the crew


BUILDING ABOATHOUSE

uses straps to pull pieces togetheror spacer bars to push them apartas needed while they sink the fas-teners.

With the doubled beams inplace, next comes the joist systembuilt from 2x10s.

The joists are first toe-nailedover the beams. The crew thengoes back to nail 2x10 scabs overthe butt joints between each joist.

Next comes the 5/4 decking. Tokeep consistent joints, the workersuse wood wedges as spacersbetween boards.

To adjust a bowed board, oneworker uses a 2x4 as a lever tomuscle it in place while anotherframer nails it down.

Unlike a deck, this boathousedock is constructed with an open



span to serve as a boat slip. Once the floor boards are

pinned in position, they can bescrewed en masse to the joists.

The decking is first marked with chalk lines to identify joistlocations.

To speed up the deck-fasteningprocess, the crew uses collatedscrews from Muro.

The Muro auto-feed screwdriveris a major labor-saver and permitsthe installers to work in a comfort-able upright position, drivingscrews at a rapid-fire rate that'dmake even John Rambo proud.

BUILDING ABOATHOUSE


The deck boards get two screws at every joist location,roughly an inch from the edge.

The dock evolves into a boathouse once you buildthe structure on top of it. The Tradesman Co. crew inte-grates the support posts of the boathouse roof into thedock framing.

To support a continuous load, the 8x8 posts arelocated over the piles and joined with stainless car-riage bolts.

BUILDING ABOATHOUSE


As a DIY carpenter, I tackle woodwork projects bothlarge and small. I've noticed on the more complicatedprojects, attention to detail often goes by the waysidewhen taking on a large scope of work. For the

Tradesmen Co. crew,who build these boat-houses all the time, thedetails aren’t forgotten.The extra effort thatwent into details suchas mitered rim joistsand custom molding forthe base of the postsreally say a lot aboutthe craftsmanship ofthese professionals.Notably, the curvedcross-braces are a real-ly nice touch. The crewcuts the post stock tolength and then takes itto a local woodshop,where a carpenter usesa band-saw to cut thegraceful profile alongeach piece. The crewinstalls the curvedbraces on site for astandout decorativeenhancement.

– M. Weber

ATTENTION TO DETAIL

The boathouse gets a hip roof that covers the entireboat slip and part of the sundeck.


A boathouse can be roofed with yourchoice of color and material. For thisproject the homeowner selected corru-gated metal roofing for its low mainte-nance requirements and sleek look.

The panels are fastened to therafters with coated self-tapping screwswith rubber washers. The large size ofthe panels sped up installation com-pared to fastening individual shingles,and the crew completed the roofing ina single afternoon.

BUILDING ABOATHOUSE

SigmaDek Ltd. • 260 600 Crowfoot Cr NW • Calgary Alberta, Canada • T3G [email protected] • 1-877-239-4449 • SigmaDek.com

Imagine an easy to install deck board with unparalleled beauty that offers these incredible benefits:

• Rugged aluminum deck board inlayed with stunning 8 inch wide Porcelain wood grain finish

• SigmaDek Boards are made from non-combustible aluminum and porcelain

• Super hard deck board surface is scratch proof

• The SigmaDek Board surface will not stain or mildew

• SigmaDek Boards are cool. Literally! The SigmaDek Board has low thermal mass and is cooler than many traditional deck boards

• No gaps! SigmaDek Board’s has a tight fit surface covering the whole deck surface with no spaces between boards

• SigmaDek Boards are very easy to install and are custom built for each project.

Come see us in Baltimore at the

Remodeling Showand DeckExpo

Oct 23rd-24th

INTRODUCING THE BEAUTIFUL SIGMADEK BOARD

MORE THAN JUSTGOOD LOOKS.

MORE THAN JUSTGOOD LOOKS.

A nice boathouse deserves a qual-ity boatlift, and this Hi-Tide boatlift is built with two marine aluminum I-beams that are mounted into the roof framing (which has beenstrengthened with extra blocking).

The driveshaft is then mountedonto the I-beams. This is a two-man tandem operation.

The driveshaft works with a pulley system to raise and lowerthe boat.

The steel cable that descendsfrom the pulleys and driveshaftconnects to the lifting beams.


BUILDING ABOATHOUSE

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An electric motor and gear driveare installed to power the lift.

The cable is then adjusted tobalance the lift, so both liftingbeams are level and positioned at the same height.

Finally, the carpeted bunks are installed onto the beams, and the boat lift is ready foraction.


EHT

BUILDING ABOATHOUSE

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Plumbers are among the mostexpensive skilled tradesaround. Between the fees

charged for just showing up at yourhouse, known in the vernacular as a "service call", to the $85-per-hour labor rate, parts and fuel sur-charges, plumbers are not cheap.I'm not knocking plumbers and I'veused my fair share in the past, butI've always watched what they didand after seeing it, I've wished I’djust done the job myself.

We've all heard that most acci-dents happen in the home, andit's true. They do. Thanks to arecent household accident I had to replace a commode in one ofour bathrooms because the tank

had been broken. If you have pre-teen or teenage children, then you know what kind of mis-chief they can cause without even trying to do so.

I began this project by going tomy local box store and buying anew commode and a new waxring. Commodes are secured inplace by bolting the base of thetoilet onto a PVC flange located at the top of the drain pipe in thefloor. A wax ring is used to form awatertight seal between the baseof the commode and the top ofthe drain. It resembles a giantdoughnut made of wax, and somehave a funnel-shaped piece ofplastic attached to the bottom to

help direct the flow of waste waterinto the drainpipe's opening. Waxrings come in two different sizes.There is a regular size and an"extra-thick" size. The larger size is sometimes used to ensure atight seal when a floor has beenremodeled and the new flooring ishigher than the PVC flange. Thisoften happens when ceramic tileis installed where formerly therewas only vinyl.

REMOVE THE OLDThe next step is to remove the

old commode. Begin by makingsure that the water supply line isturned off at the shut-off valveunder the toilet. If your commodedoes not have its own shut-offvalve, you’ill need to turn off themain valve for the entire houseand then bleed off the pressure by turning on the faucet of anoth-er fixture until the water stops running.

With the water off, flush thecommode to drain the water out ofthe tank. With the tank empty, usea pair of Channellocks to unscrewthe supply line from the bottom ofthe toilet tank. Make sure youhave a bucket and an old towelhandy because there will still bewater in the supply line and it willneed to be poured into something


DO IT YOURSELF

Don't Flush Your Money Away

By Clint C. Thomas, Esq. Photography by Zoe Thomas

This toilet's broken tank didn'thold water very well.

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to keep if off the floor. There willalso be some residual water in the bottom of the tank.

The next step is actually one of the hardest and the most

unpleasant. The water inside ofthe toilet bowel should be drainedout. If this water is not emptiedfrom the bowl it will run out thebottom of the toilet when it is

moved. In theory, this water shouldnot leak out even after the toilethas been disconnected and liftedoff the floor, provided that the toi-let remains perfectly level. This isnearly impossible, however, so it'ssmart to drain as much water asyou can. One way to accomplishthis is to use a plunger and forceas much down the drain as youcan. Another way is to use a small,disposable cup and bail the waterout. If you choose the latter optionmake sure to wear latex gloves and thoroughly wash your handsafterwards.

With the water supply lineturned off, the tank emptied andthe bowl drained, it is now safe todisconnect the commode from thefloor. This is done very easily bypopping off the plastic caps oneither side of the commode's base with a screwdriver and then

DO IT YOURSELF


Begin by draining the tank andthe supply line.

Bail out the residual water in the bowl.

unfastening the nuts with awrench or socket. The bolts areattached to the flange so they willnot come out on their own. Thecommode will lift off these twobolts after the nuts have beenremoved.

Removal and installation of atoilet is preferably a two-man job.A porcelain commode that is emp-tied of all of its water is still heavyand is unbalanced because of theposition of the tank. Most com-modes weigh in excess of 75 lbs.and are best lifted by two peoplewith each standing on either sideof the commode. One hand isplaced under the tank and theother under the front of the bowl.Both people then lift straight upsimultaneously, remembering tolift from the knees and not withthe back.

Carry the old commode outsideimmediately after removing it

because the bottom of it will havesome of the old wax ring stuck toit. If you are doing this job alone,the easiest way to maneuver acommode is to straddle the bowl

with your body facing the toilettank. This will allow you to pick upthe commode by either placingyour hands under the bottom ofthe tank or around either side of


Pry off the caps to the flangebolts.

Remove the nuts of the flangebolts.

DO IT YOURSELF

the neck that connects the tank tothe bowl. This neck is just aboutthe center of gravity for a com-mode. It can be a little awkwardwalking with a toilet bowl betweenyour legs but it is manageable.

With the old commode out ofthe way, you should then scrapeclean the PVC flange on the floordrain with a putty knife. Again, besure that you wear latex gloves

when you're doing this job. I keepa plastic grocery bag handy andscrape the old wax directly into the bag for easy disposal.

INSTALL THE NEWBegin installation of the new

commode by removing the top ofthe tank so it won't fall off andbreak. Tilt the commode andattach the wax ring to the bottomby centering it over the trap's exithole and simply sticking it againstthe bottom of the commode. Theadhesive nature of the wax willhold it in place long enough tosecure the commode to the floordrain. As you set it down, be surethat you line up the two bolts thatare protruding from the PVC flangewith the holes that are on eitherside of the commode’s base. Setthe commode in place as evenly


Lift the commode off the flangebolts to remove.

Scrape away the old wax gasket.

as possible so the wax ring willspread around the entire circum-ference of the drain hole. If oneside is set in place before theother side, then all of the wax may squeeze unevenly over to

the other side, which will cause a leak.

Once the commode has beenset in place, but before you’ve putthe nuts on the flange bolts, strad-dle the toilet bowl and sit down on

it. Then you should gently rock itfrom side to side and then front to back. Do this several times tohelp spread out the wax for awatertight seal. Remember, thewax ring is the only thing that ispreventing the toilet's waste waterfrom running onto the floor when it is flushed.

The next step is to attach thewashers and nuts to the bolts protruding through the base and

DO IT YOURSELF


Removing the wax reveals theslots in the PVC flange that retainthe flange bolts. New commodestypically include new bolts forinstallation.

Install a new wax ring of theappropriate thickness.

The wax ring attaches to the trapbeneath the bowl.

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tighten them in place. A word ofcaution: Do not over-tighten thenuts. Porcelain, unlike wood, willcrack or break if it is subjected totoo much pressure. It's also agood idea to run a bead of siliconearound the base of the commode. This will also help tokeep it from moving and seals the bottom edge.

However, make sure that youleave a weeping hole in the frontand back of this bead of caulk incase the wax ring failed to sealcorrectly. If there is not a weepinghole then any water that leaks outwill build up under the commodeand rot the floor and subfloor.After about a week's time withoutseeing any water it is then safe to

go back and add enough siliconeto close up these holes.

This same gasket-replacementprocedure is used to fix a com-mode that leaks around the basedue to the failure of an old wax

ring. The only difference is that the original commode is being re-used, which requires that the bottom of the commode bescraped free of any old wax thathas stuck to it.


The wax will adhere the gasket tothe bottom of the bowl.

Carefully lower the commode overthe flange bolts, centering thegasket over the drain and keep-ing the bowl as level as possible.

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DO IT YOURSELF

The final plumbing step is to re-connect the water supply line to the bottom of the toilet tank.Normally just hand-tightening thisconnection will suffice, but if that'snot enough then a half to full turnwith a pair of Channellocks will do the job. Remember to turn theshut-off valve back on slowly soyou do not allow a sudden blast ofpressurized water to shoot throughyour new connection, possiblycausing a leak.

The only step remaining to fin-ish the project is to install a toiletseat. This is just a matter of align-ing the plastic bolts on the seat'shardware with the holes in theneck that connects the bowl andtank together. Plastic nuts screwonto the bolts to secure the seatin place. When tightening thenuts, it is usually a good idea to


Use your body weight to press thetoilet evenly over the gasket for aproper seal.

Before installing the tank, fill the bowl with water to check for leaks.

DO IT YOURSELF

insert a screwdriver into the slots on the top of the bolts andthen use your hand or a pair ofChannellocks to tighten the nuts.Toilet seats take a lot of abusefrom people wiggling and movingso it is important that these bolts

are extra tight. Remember thatthese parts are usually plasticand will easily strip. "Extra tight"and "over tight" are not the same thing.

Stop flushing money down the drain by paying someone toperform basic plumbing repairs.Many plumbing issues are simplein nature and can be easily reme-died with a few skills and somepatience. EHT


Attach the tank using a newtank-to-bowl gasket and tankbolts with fresh rubber washers.

Designed to prevent leaks and damage caused by the gap between the toilet tank and wall, Secure-A-Tank is a fully adjustable brace which secures the toilet toprevent take movement. Without the support of the wall, any pressure against thetank produces significant strain on the bolts that connect the tank to the bowl. Overtime the stress can crack the tank or deform the gaskets that keep water from leak-ing through the bolt holes. Secure-A-Tank can be cut to size so that it fits the gap toenhance stability and support. The extension and clip pieces are quick to assemble,and the brace is easy to install on the back edge of the tank. The lid fits over theclips and hides the already clear Secure-A-Tank braces. Visit secureatank.com.

SECURE-A-TANK

SKILL SAVVY

Mold is a top concern forindoor air quality andremains a common prob-

lem in homes across the country.Mold and mildew are both typesof fungi and are similar in manyways. From causing musty smellsto serious allergic reactions,indoor mold and mildew can be apesky nuisance or a real healthhazard. EHT offers a few handytips to help fight these problemsaround your house.

SPOT THE SPORESMold is typically fuzzy in appear-

ance and can be seen in manycolors, including blue, green, yellow, brown, gray, black or white. Mold can cause structural

damage to homes over time andlead to health problems, including respiratory problems, migrainesand more.

Mildew usually grows in a flatpattern and may appear eitherpowdery or downy. Powderymildew usually starts out whiteand may later turn yellow, brownor black. Downy mildew usuallystarts out yellow and later turnsbrown. Like mold, it can alsocause respiratory problems andallergic reactions.

Look for visible signs of moldand mildew around your home.Musty odors can be a sign of mold growth, but such a smell may also indicate mice infesta-tion. Microfungal growth of mold

and mildew can sometimes be difficult to see. One trick is toshine a flashlight nearly parallel to the lower portion of wall orleg of furniture. Look for fuzzywhite, pale yellow or blue-greenspots. These are likely moldcolonies, and when disturbedthese spores can become air-borne.

By Tom Matthews


Mold can be a serious problem,causing unsightly stains, linger-ing odors, potential structuraland surface damage andadverse health effects for allergy sensitive individuals.

Fighting Mold in the Home

TIPS FOR CLEANING MOLD AND MILDEW

When cleaning mildew andmold, ensure your work area iswell-ventilated because many

mold/mildew cleaners give offfumes that are harmful to breathe.Wear a facial mask to preventbreathing in mold or mildewspores as well as to protect

yourself from breathing fumesgiven off by the cleaning product.Wear rubber gloves to protect yourhands, and use an antimicrobialmold and mildew remover.

Not all household cleaning prod-ucts and bathroom cleansers willdo the job. For example, bleach iscommonly used to clean mold andmildew but it has harsh fumes andcan be toxic. Although bleach cankill the spores and give the sur-face a spiffy appearance, bleachwon't prevent the mold fromreturning to the surface. It maylook clean once you’re done, butthe mold will grow back withinweeks. Bleach is also particularlyineffective at treating mold onporous surfaces such as drywall,lumber and grout.


SKILL SAVVY

Zinsser Mold Killing Primer canbe used to paint over and killexisting surface mold, mildewand odor-causing bacteria. It can be applied directly overproblem areas without exten-sive surface preparation andcontains an EPA-registeredantimicrobial agent to preventthe growth of mold and mildewon paint film. This water-basedprimer can be used on both non-porous interior and exteriorsurfaces, and is recommendedfor bathrooms, basements, window frames and more.

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One other issue with bleach:When it attacks surface mold, itleaves a carbon layer residue thatprevents other antimicrobial prod-ucts from penetrating to the moldroots or hyphae, which can limitthe product’s effectiveness. Ifyou’ve already treated a moldyarea with bleach in the past, youshould first wipe the area downwith warm water and detergent to remove the layer. Once the areais dry, apply the antimicrobialproduct according to the manu-facturer's instructions.

Use your antimicrobial cleanerto clean the surrounding area aswell as the area where you actual-ly see mold and mildew, to makesure you remove all traces of thesubstances.

Remove materials that cannotbe thoroughly cleaned of mold andmildew, like insulation, carpetingor drywall, and replace those withnew, mold-free materials.


Concrobium is a new way to fight mold that works on all kinds of surfaces.Concrobium Mold Control sprays on surfaces to eliminate and prevent mold. It works as it dries, reaching right down to the roots to solve your moldproblem once and for all. Another option is the Concrobium Mold StainEraser, ideal for outdoor mold staining on decks and patios. It’s bleach-free,so it won’t ruin sensitive surfaces, and it gets rid of mold staining with noscrubbing or elbow grease.

SKILL SAVVY

COMMON PROBLEMAREAS

The presence of moisture is thebiggest contributor to mold growth,and to fight the infestation youshould conduct a room-by-roomassessment of the house to identi-fy problem areas. The moisturecan come from condensation dueto poor ventilation, from a waterleak or from outdoor intrusion.

Crawlspaces and Basements.Surfaces in these below-gradeareas of the home should be asclean as the other areas of thehome. Install lights to keep an eyeon plumbing leaks. Use a concretepaint to coat concrete floors foreasier cleaning, and if possible,use a HEPA vacuum to clean thefloor and walls annually. For dirtfloors, cover the dirt with crushedstone, a vapor barrier and even

concrete. Consider using a dehu-midifier during the warmer months.Isolate a moldy basement fromhabitable spaces by closing allaccess openings leading from thebasement to the rooms above.

Foundation. Water can enter the home through foundation walls due to hydrostatic pressure,so it's critical to have the groundaround your home graded awayfrom the foundation walls for prop-er drainage. The slope shouldalways fall away from the house(never toward), dropping 6 inchesfor every 6 linear feet. Considerinstalling French drains to divertground runoff in problem areas,and use gutters and downspoutsto manage the roof runoff, direct-ing it away from the house. Keepthe gutters clean so they draineasily.

Bathrooms and kitchens.Mold/mildew-resistant paint andcaulk products help to fight com-mon problems in the kitchen andbathroom. These two rooms aremost prone to moisture retentionand therefore should have exhaustfans. The fans should alwaysremain in good working order, and you should verify that they are venting through the roof andnot into the attic.

Attic. While in the attic, if youcan see the bathroom exhausthose or kitchen exhaust duct,make sure it vents to the exteriorand does not terminate inside theattic. If this is not the case, a ventkit will need to be installed tomake connection to the exterior.

The air in the attic should be dryand fresh, which indicates ade-quate ventilation. A stuffy, musty


SKILL SAVVY

attic indicates poor ventilation, requir-ing installation of vent fans, ridgevents, soffit vents, etc.

To check if exhaust fans are vent-ing into the attic, have someone turnthe fans on and off while you're in the attic. Listen and look for signs of airflow such as moving dust orinsulation.

Check attic ducts and piping to theindoor AC unit for signs of moisturewhich indicate poor insulation. Wrapany cold water pipes with foam-tubeinsulation to prevent sweating.

In cool climates, look for condensa-tion on roofing nails. Also, install aninsulated attic door cover with a gas-ket to prevent the flow of moist airfrom the house.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICEIf you have mold or mildew covering

a large area or if you have symptoms


Bathrooms are prone to moisture and thus mold and mildew. Tohelp address these problems, Broan-NuTone's new ULTRA GreenVentilation Fan features unique sensing technology that detectshumidity or motion. The ULTRA fan is energy-efficient and exception-ally quiet, operating with sound levels of less than 0.3 Sones—thelowest rating achievable.

of related health problems, you canschedule a free consultation with amold removal professional in yourarea. An experienced professionalwill come to your home, assess thesituation, help you distinguish

between mold vs. mildew, and adviseyou about the best way to removethe problem. Check the Yellow Pagesfor a local service, and try to estab-lish references for the professional of your choice.


5-MINUTE MOLD TESTBefore spending your hard-earned money on those "instant" mold kits, get thefacts. The Healthful Home 5-Minute Mold Test is the one test that "send-in" labsdon't want you to know about. Do your own testing quickly and easily while savingmoney as compared to those "low budget" mold kits. Why wait 48 hours for a cul-ture dish to incubate or use "instant" blue protein tests if they don't tell you any-thing useful? Why wait another 7 days or more for a lab to tell you what's on theculture dish and pay additional fees of $40 or more? The 5-Minute Mold Test givesresults in minutes and provides specific detection of the most worrisome moldsassociated with water damage and illness as determined by the US EPA.

Unlike other products that offer mail-in testing, the 5-minute Home Mold Test includes specific antibody-based tests against more than 32 differentAspergillus/Penicillium and Stachybotrys mold types (the types that cause illness).Worried about your air quality? Test the settled dust in the room of concern. Or,just sample suspect areas of possible contamination. Using the same proven later-al flow assay technology employed in medical laboratories, these tests have beenvalidated in an EPA-licensed and AIHA-accredited environmental lab as the mostsensitive and accurate rapid tests available. Healthful Home mold tests are up to

100 times more sensitive thanother rapid tests on the market.Provided are all the materials nec-essary for environmental testingincluding 1 Asp/Pen rapid test, 1Stachybotrys rapid test, 1 All-in-OneCollection Swab and instructionsfor use. Test multiple areas withone kit if you just need to know ifyou have a problem, or order sepa-rate kits for each area to localizeyour mold infestation. A postage-paid mailer and sterile swabs foroptional lab confirmation areincluded. The 5-Minute Mold Test is made in the USA. VisitHomeMoldTest.com.

EHT

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NORTHERN TOOL POWERHORSE GENERATORSNorthern Tool + Equipment expands its Powerhorse product line

to offer portable 4,000- and 7,000-watt electric start generators.With a lifespan of up to eight times longer than other brands, thePowerhorse generators deliver reliability with an affordable pricetag. Powerhorse generators are most commonly used to providepower for tools and air compressors at a jobsite, home appliancesduring a power outage, and items used during outdoor activitiessuch as camping or tailgating. The electric start feature on the newgenerators allow users to simply press a button to get vital appli-ances and tools up and running in minutes, without the addedexertion of manually starting the generator. From the industrial-strength cast iron cylinder sleeves to the dual bearing forged crank-shafts, the Powerhorse OHV engines are built to last. Copper-wound heads allow the generators to run at full load continuouslyfor weeks without overheating, and all units have a clean poweroutput that is stable and consistent to ensure sensitive electronicssuch as your computer, TV or refrigerator are protected and func-tion properly. Powerhorse generators are also equipped with a voltmeter to maintain and monitor stable power, an extended-run fueltank to reduce the fuel refilling, and a quiet muffler to keep noiselevels down. Visit www.northerntool.com.

MILESCRAFT 1312 DRILLBLOCKThe DrillBlock from Milescraft guides your drill bit for

straight holes every time. The two V-grooves allow fordrilling on corners and even cylindrical surfaces, too.The inserted solid metal guide offers the six commondrill diameters: 1/8, 3/16, 1/4, 5/16, 3/8 and 1/2inch. The metal guide is held at a tight tolerance andallows you to drill a hole 90 degrees to any surface, centered on a round item or even directly into the corner of your project. Centerlines ensure accuratealignment when drilling into various surfaces. The non-slip padding holds the DrillBlock in place when drilling.The ergonomic design of DrillBlock fits into the handseasily for comfortable usage. Visit www.milescraft.com.

KAPRO SET & MATCHThe Kapro Set & Match is a patented set-and-match ruler that fea-

tures two easy-to-read slide and lock leveling vials, both horizontaland vertical. It's a great tool for DIY home-improvement measuringand marking projects, such as setting and aligning shelves, cabinets,mirrors, stencils and wallpaper. Use it to mark/cut longer lines onwalls, wood, drywall and cardboard. The beveled edge of the ruler liesflush against the wall for exceptional visibility and accuracy whenplacing a pencil to mark the measurement, which is a huge help forprecisely hanging framed photos and artwork. Choose from threelengths; 24, 32, 40 and 48 inches. Visit www.kapro.com.

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SigmaDek Ltd. introduces its latest innovation, a stunning collection ofaluminum framed deck boards inlayed with woodgrain porcelain. The stun-ning beauty and maintenance-free SigmaDek board surface will offer yearsof worry-free enjoyment, while the non-combustible surface will add a layerof protection to your family. The SigmaDek board is designed to cover theentire deck surface with no gaps between boards and the super hard porce-lain surface stays cooler than most traditional deck boards. In addition tothese many benefits the SigmaDek Board has a high resistance to stainingor scratching. Available to the public in 2015, look for a sneak a peek at the2014 Remodeling Show and Deck Expo in Baltimore Oct 23rd and 24th.Visit www.sigmadek.com.

PUREBOND PROJECT PANELSIdeal for use in DIY shelving, cabinetry and furniture projects,

PureBond Project Panels from Columbia Forest Products are top-quality, American hardwood plywood products sold through an exclusive online program with Home Depot. PureBond panels arenow offered in a choice of 12 different unfinished, prefinished andprimed hardwood veneer species, including lustrous Cherry. They'reavailable as “ship to home” or “ship to store” items from The HomeDepot’s website. PureBond Project Panels are available in a choiceof popular smaller sizes: 2x2, 2x4, 2x8 and 4x4 feet. Choose fromthree thickness options: 1/4, 1/2, and 3/4 inch. Visit www.homedepot.com.

MYLIGHT.ME MOTION-ACTIVATED ACCENT LIGHTINGMotion-activated mylight.me detects movement and illuminates astrip of LEDs to provide soft, instant lighting wherever you need it. In the bedroom, two 5-ft. light strips adhere to the undersides of your bed rails, to softly light your way the minute you get up. As amotion sensitive nightlight, it provides comfort and safety for anyonefrom young children to the elderly. In a closet, it provides multi-direc-tional light that no single fixture can match. In a hallway or stairway,mylight.me provides safe passage when it detects your presence.Under a bathroom vanity or kitchen cabinets or in a nursery or laun-dry room, mylight.me provides welcoming light as you enter the room.It even works on a boat or in an RV.

It comes in three versions, each including everything you need forfast, easy installation without any tools. Each kit includes 10 feet ofself-adhesive lighting strip and 8 feet of electrical cord to connect itto an outlet. The closet light is one 10-foot light strip and a motionsensor, while the bed light consists of two 5-foot strips, one for eachside of the bed, and a motion sensor. Both include built-in automaticshut-off timers that can be set to keep the light on for 30 seconds to10 minutes after activation. Visit www.mylight.me.


SUPER DUST DEPUTY XLSingle-stage dust collectors lose suction very quickly as the filter becomesclogged with dust. Using a cyclone separator in conjunction with your collector will separate over 99 percent of dust from the air-stream prior to reaching the filter. This prevents your vacuum's filter from clogging, allowing you to work safer and longer while saving valuable time and money

on replacement filters and bags. Oneida AirSystems has a new addition to the Super DustDeputy pre-separator family. The Super DustDeputy XL is made to handle bigger 3- to 5-hpsystems. The Super Dust Deputy XL capturesover 99 percent of the waste before it reachesyour single-stage collector, eliminating clogging

and loss of airflow. Made of staticconductive plastic, it is both light-weight and durable. Visitwww.oneida-air.com.

STANLEY CLICK ‘N’ CONNECTIdeal for homeowners and DIY'ers, the Stanley Click ‘N’ Connect 2-in-1 (model STST19900) is comprised of two separate units—modelsSTST19950 and STST14440—a toolbox and an organizer unit, respec-tively. The Click ‘N’ Connect toolbox features a lid that can be openedfrom either side for convenience or removed completely. The uniqueshape and proportions allow storage for both power tools and handtools combined. Removable dividers allow users to create their ownconfiguration to address their storage needs, from one large compart-ment or up to nine sections, making it ideal to hold loose nails, boltsand more. Two lid organizers also create additional storage options.The Click ‘N’ Connect organizer also features removable dividers forcustomizable storage. A clear, durable plastic lid provides visibility and helps prevent the contents such as small hand tools, nails, andscrews from shifting and mixing. Easy-to-use latches enable smooth,hassle-free connecting and detaching from the toolbox. Visit www.stanleytools.com.

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MILESCRAFT 1315 HOOKDRIVERHave you ever struggled with installing screw eyes or cup hooks? Ever used a screw-

driver or pliers to try and make them easier to install, only to bend the hooks out of shapeor scratch the surrounding surfaces? If you have, you no longer need to. The MilescraftHookDriver is the two-in-one tool that makes driving hooks easy. The HookDriver’s standard1/4-in. hex shaft allows it to be used with impact drivers or both corded and cordless drills.It will work on hooks with a wire diameter of up to 1/4-in., and comes with a removable T-Handle that can be used with the HookDriver itself or with any 1/4-in. hex accessory. Now installing hooks takes no more effort than simply pulling the trigger on your impactdriver or drill. Visit www.milescraft.com.

FLEX-TEC HV EPOXYTired of using inferior repair compounds that don’t last? Check outAdvanced Repair Technology’s Flex-Tec HV epoxy repair system. It’s marketed as the strongest and most versatile repair compound availabletoday. It cures hard to the touch yet will expand and contract with wood. Itholds screws and can be drilled, routed, sanded, and otherwise tooled likewood. Flex-Tec HV has a compression strength of over 14,000 PSI. Videos on the product’s website shows the repairholding the bond even when planed, with the epoxy curling up with the wood in thin shavings. Flex-Tec HV could be agood choice for drill and refill jobs such as resetting hinges, column repairs, window sills and doors. The system offersa unique dispensing system—no guess work—same result every time. This product is so trusted it is used by the ArmyCorps. Of Engineers. Pricing: $62 for 450 ml; $34 for 150 ml. Visit www.advancedrepair.com.

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GREENLEE’S EK50ML MICRO CRIMPING TOOLGreenlee offers the first battery-powered crimping tool with PowerSense Technology, the EK50ML MicroCrimping Tool. The new lightweight tool can deliver 3,400 lbs. of crimping force and crimps 65 percent fasterwith 90 percent less hand force compared to ratchet-ing tools. The EK50ML is designed to crimp 28-4 AWGwire, twisted pair and coaxial cable using PowerSenseTechnology, a patented trigger that allows the user tohold their work in the jaws of the tool before crimping.Powered by a compact 10.8-volt lithium-ion battery,the EK50ML can perform 250 crimps on 10 AWGwire. Greenlee also offers 42 die sets throughout theKwik Cycle and CrimpALL lines to perform almost allsmall diameter crimping jobs. (The dies are sold sepa-rately.) Visit greenlee.com.

V-PUMPV-Pump is a simple and dynamic high-velocity water pump that requires no electricity andhas no moving parts. It's inexpensive and easy to use. This totally submersible pump isgreat for draining swimming pools, hot tubs, ponds, aquariums, trenches, constructionsites and flooded basements. Anywhere you need to remove water, the V-Pump is youranswer. By using the pressure from your garden hose, this simple but effective sub-mersible pump will drain up to 4,500 liters of water/h (1,200 gal./h) with optimal waterpressure. The average output is between 3,025 to 3,400 litres of water/h (800-900gal./h). With the high-velocity V-Pump, there's no motor oil to top-up or rotator to break.Just hook up the pump to your garden hose and turn it on. The vacuum created by thewater swirling through the pump will remove the extra water from your pond, flooded boator construction site in no time at all. You'll be amazed at how fast you can move water,mud and other debris. Visit www.v-pump.com.

WESTBURY ALUMINUM DRINK RAILThe new Westbury Aluminum Drink Rail from DiggerSpecialties, Inc. comes individually sleeved as a kit,with one rail and screws included, so it’s easier tostock and handle for Lumber Dealers. The Drink Railis available in 74- and 98-in. lengths and a width of3-1/4 inch. The pre-drilled rail has solid aluminumwall construction for strength and durability and cansupport wood or composite deck boards. It easilyinstalls on the Westbury C-Series Crossover PostSystem. DSI offers the Drink Rail in their 12 standardcolors: Satin Black, Black Fine Texture, Ninety Bronze,Bronze Fine Texture, White Fine Texture, Gloss Beige,Gloss White, Speckled Walnut, Sandy Shore, Clay,Chocolate and Silver. The colors are AAMA 2604 asstandard, or you can upgrade to AAMA 2605 powdercoating. Visit www.westburyrailing.com

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C.F. Struck Corporation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86

Calculated Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Channellock. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Concrobium. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BC

Cox Wood. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Create-A-Bed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

Del Conca USA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

DrainFixt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85

Drill Doctor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

Duck Tape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Duckback. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Dustless Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

e3light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

Earthway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

ECO-heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

Elmer’s. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Evapo-Rust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

EZ Pro Tools. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

General Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IFC, 1

Gorilla Glue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

Grizzly Industrial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

GRK Fasteners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Gutterpiller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86

Harbor Freight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

Healthful Home. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

Howard Products. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

Ingram’s Water & Air Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

Jacks Small Engines. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Kaddies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Keson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

KronotexUSA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Ladder Strap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Land Pride . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Lie-Nielsen Toolworks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Lopi Stoves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Lumber Liquidators. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Manning Building Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

Mayhew Steel Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Maze Nails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Milescraft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

MP Global Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19, 33

Muro. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

NewTechWood. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Oneida Air Systems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

Paint Glider . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Pine Hall Brick. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

Quick Screws. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Rayovac . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Ready Seal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

RHH Foam Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

Richpower Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Ryobi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

SafeRacks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

SafeWorld International . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79

Sakrete . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

Sascho. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Screw Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

SigmaDek . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Simonton ProNetwork. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

SplitStop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

Starrett . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

Sure Drive USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

Swanson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

TG Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2, 3, IBC

The Wooster Brush Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36, 41

TimberTech . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83

Tjernlund Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Top Deck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

UGL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Wagner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Wolmanized Wood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

Wood-Glide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

Woodworker’s Hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82


Date post:	06-Dec-2015
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Extreme How-To Magazine - October 2014 USA

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