Hot Furniture & Woodworking How-Tos

How To: Build a snowboard workbench

In this Home & Garden video tutorial you will learn how to build a snowboard workbench. For this project you will need an old snowboard, some wood and the required tools. Pre cut the wood into these lengths: 4 x 31” and 5 x 29. 5”. From the snowboard remove the bindings and stomp pad if possible. Drill 4 holes at both ends with 3/16 drill bit. Flip the board over and draw lines the center piece of wood to help align it later. Now take 3 piece of 29. 5 long wood and make a ‘U’ shape. You can w...

How To: Install the last row

This video shows how to install the last row of laminate flooring. Take one of the last row pieces of laminate that was cut to size, and tilt it into the laminate floor. Lay a pull bar from your wedge kit across the laminate, and wedge it between the wall and the

How To: Install the last row without a pull bar

When you end your last row, there are occasions where you can't use a pull bar. The alternative to using a pull bar is to modify the groove side of the plank that's on the floor. Shave the groove and remove the debris, making sure that there's none in the track. Next, take a small bead of glue and run it down the groove side of your plank. Engage the next plank as close as you can get. Set the plank in place with the pull bar. Finally, tape the plank to its neighbor to secure it until the glu...

How To: Undercut the door casing

This video demonstrates the proper technique for undercutting the door casing or the molding around the door. You will need to do this when you are laying a laminate floor, otherwise the laminate flooring will not seat underneath the door casing correctly. The first step is to figure out how much you will need to cut out of the door casing. This can be accomplished by measuring the thickness of the laminate flooring plus any underlay you may be using. The presenter demonstrates this with a po...

How To: Age wood

For furniture or wood projects, adding an aged wood look can give real character and interest to an otherwise ordinary object. With a little sanding, stain and lacquer to finish you can transform any wood object.

How To: Install quarter round

This video will be a very quick, simple, and easy way to install your quarter round. To start you will see that instead of cutting a 45 degree corner, it was left flush. With the other piece you will cut a cove in it and then align it on top of the other piece at the corner of the wall. This method allows the pieces to fit, regardless of the irregularities in the wall (if any). To finish it up take the return and just apply enough glue to attach it to the end of the first piece. There it is -...

How To: Keep your outdoor deck in top shape

Keeping your deck in shape involves a number of steps. You can't just go out and start staining the deck. It must be cleaned first. Composite decks or PVC decks can be pressured washed but if you use too much power on a wood deck you will curl it or cause the fiber on the deck to peel up and roll back. There are some key products to use to clean the deck. Corte Cleaner is an excellent eco-friendly cleaner. One gallon mixed will do 200 square feet of the deck and it won't hurt the plants or an...

How To: Install FasTrim with your laminate floor

Inserting FasTrim with your laminate floor requires only a few simple tools. To insert FasTrim on your laminate floor that is up against ceramic tiles, first drill holes in the plastic track using a 3/16 masonry bit. Be sure to wear safety glasses to avoid damage from flying parts. Then clean up any debris on the track. Next insert the plastic insert and put in the screws. Put in the last piece of laminate and use a pull bar to bring it up tight. Insert the FasTrim over the plastic track. Pou...

How To: Fix a knot

Ever find yourself short on material and that one board you really need has a nice open knot in it? You could always go out and buy more material, but sometimes its just easier and faster to stabilize and repair the knot. And instead of trying to hide the knot, sometimes it's just better to embrace it and make it look look resinous and natural. And that's the goal here. Our guide uses an epoxy/dye mixture to create a stable and decorative knot. With a little elbow grease, and this video from ...

How To: Transfer patterns on woodworking projects with Lowe's

This video illustrates the transfer of paper patterns on woodworking projects with Lowe's. If you have a pattern in a piece of paper for the woodworking project. Draw the grid for the pattern in a piece of paper. Even though, the piece of wood is six times larger than the pattern in paper. Draw the grid in the wood with One and half inches by the use of ruler. Then check out each and every box of grid in a pattern, trace the shape of each boxes in the wood. After finishing all the grid boxes ...

How To: Put laminate floors in your home

This video demonstrates how to laminate floors into your home. In this case, this is an episode from HGTV which is a home improvement show with the motto of "Start at Home." The laminated floors in this video are click and lock floors. First you would clean out the floor, install flooring and then cut the pieces to fit. If you follow the steps slowly in this video, you'll be able to laminate the floors. Some basic carpentry skills are needed for this task.

How To: Repair a wooden kitchen chair spindle

The handyman in this video teaches viewers how to repair a broken leg of a kitchen table chair. To make these repairs all that is needed, other than the chair, is a liquid nail, a small nail screw, turpentine and screw driver. The handy man in the video makes this repair look easy and in expensive, which is a great alternative to having to purchase a new kitchen chair. He not only explains how to make the repair but how the repair works and why it is effective.

How To: Install KronoSwiss laminate flooring

While remodeling or redoing a room, many owners will inevitably want to install laminate flooring. This video shows how to install laminate flooring beginning with what tools and supplies will be necessary and then showing panel-by-panel how to install each floor panel. It also goes over how to install a piece around existing pipes or other things that require a difficult shape that is not a rectangle. The video even goes over installation of perimeter molding as well as how to care and clean...

How To: Install hardwood floors in your home

In this follow up video from Lowe's home improvement series, Mike Kraft demonstrates how to install hardwood flooring in your home. If you haven't watched it yet, be sure to check out the video on how to prepare your subfloor for installation of hardwood or laminate flooring, to be sure that your flooring lasts. In this video Mike provides a detailed list of the tools you will need to get this job done right, as well as some great tips on how to prepare your materials to guarantee a job well ...

How To: Begin chip carving mahogany wood

In this three-part carving tutorial, Valerie Jones demonstrates her chip-carving techniques on Mahogany wood. Using an X-acto knife, she carves the wood by hand & describes how to carve German-style, geometric patterns into the wood after stenciling the pattern on the outer wood surface. Later, Valerie talks about her methods when chip carving wood: how to hold the knife, how to guide the blade, finishing the final product, how to follow a stencil pattern & goes over more useful information.

How To: Prepare for installing laminate flooring

This video tutorial shows you the proper way to prepare for the installation of laminate flooring. One thing you need to do is maintain a temperature of a minimum of 65 degrees. You can install it practically anywhere, as long as there is no moisture or dampness. Concrete, ceramic, wood , and vinyl are all find for installation but the surface needs to be dry, flat and smooth. This video is a simple guide to give you some precautions before you begin your installation.

How To: Install laminate flooring in a home

This video demonstrates the installation of laminate flooring. He shows which side of the board is the top, and shows how the tongue and groove enable the boards to snap together. The tools he uses are a tapping block, a metal pull bar, a hammer and a measuring tape. The flooring is installed by laying the boards down and tapping them into place. The video goes on to show two guys installing the floor in a living room in real time. This is a good do-it-yourself project that doesn't take very ...

How To: Build a drill press table for your woodshop

It is not that hard to make your own drill press table. Start with a 3/4-inch piece of plywood. Cut a 3/4-inch dado cut on both ends of the 3/4-inch board about two inches from the end. Top the 3/4-inch plywood with a 1/4-inch piece of oak cut into three pieces. When you cut the board into three pieces cut the center piece out with a 10-degree angle so that when you glue the two end pieces down the center piece will slide in and out but be held in place by the angle. This allows you to change...

How To: Install a laminate floor (simulated wood)

If you like the look of wood floors but you are concerned about the durability of wood because of kids or pets then laminate might be the answer for you. Laminate is really durable and it is easy to install. The laminate is the same material that they laminate kitchen counter tops with and it doesn't have to be glued or nailed down. It floats on a foam pad. This allows laminate to be laid over almost any surface without a problem. The pieces now interlock and so you don't have to worry about ...

How To: Construct your own headboard

Grace Bonney shows us an easy way to create an upholstered headboard for your bed. Using a low-end easy budget, you will be able to create a elegant looking headboard using wood, foam, batting, fabric, scissors, a utility knife, a staple gun, and flush mounts. After cutting out the shape of your headboard or starting with an existing headboard, cut out a piece of foam that is the same size. Pull batting over the foam to even out the surface, and then put the fabric onto the headboard. With th...

How To: Create a UnaBox

This video shows the viewer how to make a UNA box from pieces of hardwood, and 2 pieces of dowel. The box is made by building the normal box from the wood. The lid is then secured using a large piece of dowel so that it can pivot. Additionally to the first large dowel another smaller piece of dowel is secretly added to stop the box opening this has to be removed for it to open so makes it harder for intruders to open. The box can then be sanded, painted and used to hide small objects!

How To: Use a pressure washer on wood and other surfaces

The many uses of a pressure washer that can be fun and save time on the harder cleaning jobs around the house. Always use safety glasses when using power tools. The pressure washer easily attaches to a garden hose and multiplies the water pressure. It is good for removing dirt from wooden fences, sidewalks, decks and the side of your house. When you get used to the pressure washer and begin using its attachments, you will find more uses around the house and with your vehicles. It can be fun a...

How To: Make your own tortilla press

This step by step instructional video will show you how you are able to make your own tortilla press at home using simple everyday materials. Shows the best sizes of wood to make the tortilla press and what tools you will need to complete this project. Including tips and tricks to make sure that the tortilla press makes the tortillas well. After watching this quick and easy to follow how to video you can easily make your own tortillas at home.

How To: Make a flower arrangement using old CDs

In this video, Steven Marin shows us an interesting method to recycle old CDs to make beautiful flower arrangements along with other recycled materials. In order to make the flowers, you need to take your old CDs and heat them up in a toaster oven. As demonstrated in the video, the CDs are very hot when they are taken out and should be handled with care. They are easily molded into the interesting flower shape by pressing them down over the neck of a bottle or by holding them in a cloth and s...

How To: Make a light switch plate out of an old CD

In this video you will be shown an interesting method of recycling old CDs. The creator suggests using old CDs to make wall mountings for circular dimmer switches. He starts be using his router to create a circular indent in a piece of redwood this if for the CD. He then cuts out this circle shape and places the CD in the middle. Attaching the light switch is slightly more complicated than the previous stages and for accurate details please see the video.

How To: Clean and wax a wood table

Not sure how to safely clean your wood table without ruining it? In this video tutorial, learn how to properly wipe off your table and how to protect it with a sealant called, Pastewax. This substance dries and does not attract dust making your table look shiny & new, like a piece out of a museum!

How To: Fix a sticking bifold door

A sticking bifold door can really cramp your style, and access to your linen closet or pantry. To fix the problem, you'll have to take the door off the hinges, and take a sander to it. Phillips Woodworking shows you how to sand down the sticking part, and cover it up with some paint. Your door will be opening and closing like new!

How To: Make your own customized clock

Clocks are an essential part of your home, but you don't just have to settle for whatever clocks you can find at the store. Is this tutorial from Decor it Yourself, you'll learn how to make a funky timepiece that suits your style. Almost anything can be a clock, as long as you put a drill through it and stick it the wall!

How To: Make a pecan crusher out of junk parts

MAKE zine brings the DIY mindset to the technology in your life, encouraging you to break things apart and put them back together in a new and better way. In this video, MAKE and KipKay show you how to build a pecan crusher out of junk parts. Pecans are delicious, but their shells can be maddeningly tough to break into. This video introduces you to an enterprising gent who built a pecan smasher using various gizmos he had around in his garage. Now you can be like him, and use science to show ...

How To: Make your own plexiglass drawer organizer

MAKE zine aims to bring the DIY aesthetic and mindset to all the technology in your life. They want you to break open things and put them back together in a better way. In this video, MAKE and KipKay show you how to build a plexiglass drawer organizer so you'll be able to find your stuff in a pinch. This isn't a project for novice crafters, but the steps here aren't hard to follow.