Recipe to Preserve Your Christmas Tree

It may be too late for our tree as we've already had it in water for two weeks but if you've got a fresh cut tree this recipe may keep your tree's needles moist and green and smelling great.

  December 17, 2007 | Comments (1)

Work Glove Guidelines in the Workshop

Toolcrib recommends wearing gloves while moving wood and materials into the workshop but when it comes time to use heavy machinery you must remove your gloves.OSHA concurs "Use gloves to protect hands from splinters when handling wood but do not wear them near rotating blades and other machinery parts where the gloves can catch." A commenter added "wear gloves when the tool is taken to the work; do not wear them when the work is taken to the tool." Some good tips to live/work by.

  December 14, 2007 | Comments ()

Winterize Your Home

imapix

No matter how many space heaters you have or how hot your radiator is running, if your home isn't properly insulated you are in for a long winter. The first place you should star with are your doors and windows.

Weatherstripping Windows and Doors [Lowes]
Weatherstripping Your Home [Department of Energy]
Installing Door Weatherstripping (video) [Expert Village]
Weatherstripping a Window [Ace Hardware]

  December 13, 2007 | Comments (1)

Choosing the Perfect Pipe for Your Project

Selecting the right pipe for a job can be a daunting process. Here's a guide that breaks down the most common pipes and what applications they are best suited for. If you need help selecting the proper size and dimensions for your pipe or fitting, the Engineering Toolbox has a full list.

  December 12, 2007 | Comments ()

60 Second Sofa Test

Furniture is an investment and needs to be sturdy enough to withstand hundreds to thousands of uses. You wouldn't buy a car without at least taking it for a test drive and at most checking under the hood and giving it a thorough sight and feel inspection. The same principle can be applied to larger pieces of furniture such as sofas and couches.

Here's our 60 Second Sofa Test

  December 9, 2007 | Comments (3)

Steam Radiator Tips

Steam Radiators require proper maintenance to keep them running efficiently and silently. There are a lot of opinions out there for what to do when the gurgling and clanging starts and Fixer-Upper has pulled together a nice list to help you keep your steam radiator in top shape and looking great.

  December 7, 2007 | Comments (2)

Selecting a Christmas Tree: Fir, Spruce, or Pine

This year we went with a 10-ft. Douglas Fir basically because it was the only tree that had the tall and narrow silhouette that we required. It's very healthy and the branches are spaced for ornaments to hang perfectly. The color is rich and the needles are shiny and give off a bit of a sweet and citrus smell, not quite the "christmas tree" scene we had envisioned but pleasant. The needle retention seems great so far but we've only had it for a few days. Here's a list of the Top 10 Choices for Christmas Trees as well as more information about tree types and how to best select your tree in the lot.

There are other alternatives to cut trees such as buying a living tree that you can replant in your yard or going with an artificial tree that is easier to clean up and doesn't impact the environment. If you do decide on a cut tree make sure you recycle it.

  December 4, 2007 | Comments ()

Seven Deadly Sins of DIY

HGTV of Canada has listed Six Deadly Sins of DIY Projects that we should all be wary of. We would add a seventh called "Expectations" as the honeymoon of a project will quickly wear off when expectations of time, money, and finished results are not met. We aren't suggesting you curb your enthusiasm when it comes to new projects but be prepared to roll with the punches and don't settle for results that aren't what you desired.

  December 3, 2007 | Comments (1)