Much more at MY-DIY.net [saw care]

Just like kitchen knives, hand saw blades require sharpening or they become ineffective. To maintain your blades you will need a few hand saw sharpening tools including a saw file, a saw set, and softwood. Start by positioning the blade between softwood pieces so the teeth are exposed, but not much else of the blade. With a saw file- a triangle shaped object- file the teeth with firm, even strokes. Take your time as this part of the process can be difficult.

Next, you’ll want to take out your other hand saw sharpening tools for setting the teeth. The saw set is a cast iron tools that looks like a set of pliers and is used to set the right kerf width. Squeeze the handles of the saw set together and a pre-set plunger forces the tooth against a wheel-shaped anvil. Do this for all the teeth until the blade looks the way it did when it was brand new. A quality blade, when properly cared for, will last you many years.

All porpose Hand Saws

Hand Saws are an important part of a Mister Fix-Its workshop. Hand saws come in a variety of designs depending on whether they’re needed for metal working or wood working. A metal cutting saw includes coarse, thick teeth whereas wood cutting hand saws utilize softer teeth. There are four basic categories of hand saws that a handyman or woman will come across.

The four types of hand saws are hacksaws, sheetsaws, junior hacksaws, and padsaws. A hacksaw can cut a wide range of metals and is best used for cutting pipes and bars, but not large metal sheets. Sheetsaws, on the other hand, are ideal for cutting large metal sheets to any depth. Junior hacksaws are much smaller than a normal hacksaw and may contain multiple adjustable blades for complex work. Padsaws have a pad handle which fastens with a clamp over one end of the blade, and are mainly used for jobs in confined spaces.
Learn many aspects of DIY home improvement phases and repairs, visit our site MY-DIY.net for products, techniques and how to's. Lets build something right the first time, better together.

TREX Decking re-call

Trex Nightmare: Having had over $3,500.00 worth of Trex Decking installed. The material bought in Feb. 2005, for my front deck, is deteriorating. Not mold or mildew but flaking off of surface. This deck has had only rain water. Trex sent two people to evaluate my problem and their report to Trex resulted in them offering me $380.84 for replacing 220 lin ft. of decking.???

The story continues:


My quote for this replacement material amounted to $647.44. It will cost me another $400.00 in labor to dismantle and reinstall.---My back deck , installed late in 2005, has so far, shown problems on only 2 boards, 20 ft. long.---The problem starts with bubbling and then completely deteriorates by flaking off of surface material.--This was obviously a bad run of material, as several other decks of same time period have had exactly the same problem.Trex manufactures claim "to make it right" said they have been good about replacing the material but in my case they do not want to replace this much material. I have heard nothing from them since refusing their offer. Their warranty on their product is 25 yrs.--They want me to accept half price of material, do all the labor myself and sign a full and final release for all of my Trex decking. I bought 1540 lin. ft @Approx. $2.20 per ft. when doing my decks. The same material is now $2.60 per lin.ft.--

That story tells the truth about composite decking material, although it can be worked (drilled-notched-sawed) much like lumber, it is man made and this particular batch end up imploding itself. Internal mold issues caused premature delamination and forced a class action suite against TREX. I believe in lumber, built right the first time and looks and feels natural a redwood deck is the way to go.



If you plan on DIY decking in your future, weigh the difference and consider your geographical location. East coast vs. West coast IE., but either way it turns out, you will have improved to curb appeal of your home and will most likely recoup any out of pocket expense (ROI) from that home improvement. Here @ MY-DIY ..........Done Right the first Time!

Hand sawing Laminates

If you want to update your countertops consider installing plastic laminate. Laminate comes in many colors, patterns, and designs. In order to execute the project you will need: plastic laminate, contact cement, hand saws, paint brush, roller, sand paper, work gloves, and a straight edge.

Steps:
1. Thoroughly clean and sand the surface where the laminate will be applied.
2. Cut the laminate sheets to size using fine-toothed hand saws, such as Disston hand saws.
3. Brush the contact cement on the clean, sanded surface, as well as to the back of the cut laminate pieces.
4. Let the cement sit for 15 minutes and then move the laminate pieces into position.
5. When the pieces are laid down, go over the top with a roller to evenly apply pressure, ensuring the laminate will stick.
6. To give the project a polished look, finish the trim in the same laminate, using the steps listed above.

diy drawers

Request come in all kinds. "Remove my ice maker and build some cabinet storage or drawer storage", and make it look as if you were never even here!
The removed ice machine had a huge cavity to restructure, for the set of drawers to work here I had to down size the area inside this cabinet. With an existing face frame, the drawers need a set of runners framed in place to carry the drawer slides, or furring down the size of the existing void.The existing opening has to be consistent through to the back, so all pieces can be pre-cut with a hand saw or miter saw and assembled prior to installation. Once layout had been carefully measured, and the drawer boxes were fabricated in the shop, the drawer runners and back boards are installed. And the drawer slides are now ready for leveling and placement.

With a Kreg Jig, the face frame dividers are pre-drilled and installed next. Leaving clearance for the drawer boxes to slide freely and smooth. We can now pre-drill the front of the drawer boxes so they can be screwed to the back of the drawer faces.

The painter gets the call to come and spray finish our clients new diy drawer storage cabinet. If all has been executed precisely, no one will ever know the new drawers have been retro-fitted into an old cabinet!

Cross Cut Hand-Saws

Crosscut saws can trace their earliest roots to ancient times. There are historical records indicating that crosscut saws were employed in parts of the Roman Empire, though their construction would likely differ from what we know today as a saw. Although we know the Romans used them, they did so in small quantity. The use of such saws was rare and not widespread. In the 15th century, however, all that changed.

The crosscut hand saw became a popular implement in Europe. It was around this time that the crosscut saw solidified itself in human history as one of the most important technological and revolutionary achievements of all time. Since that time the crosscut saw has become popular with loggers and anyone l looking for high-performance crosscut action. Today the crosscut saw and many other hand tools, enjoys a rich history steeped in the centuries-old practices and traditions of master woodsmen from all over the world. The crosscut saw is a mainstay in the history of human technological development.

DIY Leak Test your House

In determining a leak in your system, the only absolute sure way for a decision to be made here, is to go straight to the source. The water service meter to your house monitors every drop that passes the gauge. When pouring a concrete slab foundation, the plumbing lines are re trenched and placed in the ground prior to the concrete pour, as time progresses there is often several things that may have to occur or end up going wrong.
A visual inspection of the outside of your residence may aide in any abnormalities IE., wet areas near the exterior perimeters, higher than usual water bills, interior mold stench, warm places beneath the flooring etc. If you are experiencing any of these common issues, then before calling a plumbing contractor and getting invoiced for the trip, a final DIY leak test can be performed.
Turn off any and all appliances, dishwasher or washing machine. Check any and all the sinks faucets to be sure they are 100% in the off position. If any toilet is running because of needed repairs, then shut off their angle stop or (supply line) and if you are not alone then tell everyone else to please wait on flushing any toilets or washing any hands.

It is now time to find your water meter, typically on or near the street or curb. In the front of the property and in the ground. If you are absolutely positive that all fixtures/machines and spigots are off then the meter should not be moving/counting or digitally calculating the city or counties water passing through it. Chances are that this has assisted you in DIY leak detection.