Jeanna and Ron’s Dog-Proof Raised Garden Bed - Home Improvement – Today's Homeowner

Jeanna Walters-Fancella and her husband, Ron, wanted to do two things: beautify their backyard and plant herbs to repel fleas and ticks.

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Today’s Homeowner Radio Show for June 30, 2018 - Home Improvement – Today's Homeowner

Listen to the Today's Homeowner Radio Show for June 30, 2018.

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Summer Tips for Comfortable Living - Home Improvement – Today's Homeowner

Summertime offers more opportunities to enjoy the Great Outdoors, but before you have some fun in the sun, you need to make sure your home is ready for the season. “Today’s Homeowner” hosts Danny Lipford and Chelsea Lipford Wolf have these summer maintenance tips: Clean all windows For busy homeowners, follow these simple steps for […]

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Today’s Homeowner Radio Show for June 23, 2018 - Home Improvement – Today's Homeowner

Listen to the Today's Homeowner Radio Show for June 23, 2018.

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June Home Maintenance To-Do List - Home Improvement – Today's Homeowner

June is a perfect time to take care of those nagging home cleaning and repair chores before the summer heat becomes too much.

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Creating a Backyard Paradise with an Outdoor Fireplace - Home Improvement – Today's Homeowner

Adding a Pavestone fireplace to your backyard paradise not only makes a statement, but it also makes your outdoor living space usable nearly year-round.

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Building Wing Walls with Pavestone Pavers - Home Improvement – Today's Homeowner

Pavestone seat walls are a beautiful and functional addition to any paver patio and they’re easy to build.

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Fine-Tune Your Woodworking Projects with Just One Tool - Home Improvement – Today's Homeowner

This set combines all the tools you need to fine-tune wood.

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This Household Product Doubles as a Low-Cost, Non-Toxic Fertilizer - Home Improvement – Today's Homeowner

This household staple isn't just for sore muscles, small wounds and dry skin. Joe Truini explains how it can be a low-cost fertilizer.

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Today’s Homeowner Radio Show for June 16, 2018 - Home Improvement – Today's Homeowner

Listen to the Today's Homeowner Radio Show for June 16, 2018.

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Build a Filing Cabinet to Compliment Your Desk!

Last week I shared a metal and wooden desk project with you which has been working perfectly in its new space; feel free to find it here.. This week I’m sharing the basics on how to compliment the desk with a nice filing cabinet made from Oak material. It’s a simple additive that really goes well with the look and the function of this new work surface. The video of the filing cabinet build can be found down below. Oh yeah! Definitely check out the plans I just posted as well. They are comprehensive build plans which walk you through all the steps necessary to re-create this entire project.

Here’s some of the gear I used for this project:

Triton Track saw
ISOtunes Bluetooth Hearing Protection
Jobsite Saw
Infinity Table Saw Blade
Edge Banding

Triton SuperJaws
Ultimiate Workbench Plans
Triton Palm ROS
Rockler Bench Cookies
Blue Bar Clamps

Titebond Original Wood Glue
Triton Drills
18 Gauge Brad Nailer
Fuji HVLP Sprayer
Fuji Hose Whip
Stain
Cross-Linking Top Coat

Some of the links above are affiliate links. If you make a purchase using one of these links, I will get a small commission from the sale of the products.  In a small way it helps to keep this website alive and kicking and I appreciate your support in this way. Cheers – April

 

The post Build a Filing Cabinet to Compliment Your Desk! appeared first on Wilker Do's.

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Dremel released a new cordless cleaning tool…and it’s awesome! Check it out!

Sometimes the elbow grease runs low and a squeaky tired joint holds you back from the amount of scrubbing you could otherwise put into your cleaning job. Enter the Dremel Versa; it’s a battery powered scrubbing machine that lays down some serious scrubbing power…..and it fits in the palm of your hand. Dig it:

Dremel is well known for producing quality product that can handle some abuse. I’ve been beating on their high speed rotary tools for years and have had nothing but good fortune with them. This tool appears to be built with the same level of craftsmanship as all the others I own.

It’s marketed as a versatile tool for a variety of jobs and comes with different attachments fit for tile and grout, carpet spots, stove tops, cast iron machine tops, painted surfaces, glass, ceramics and the list goes on. The unit is completely sealed making it very water resistant so you can use it for really wet applications like scrubbing wheels and tires.

I recently put it to work cleaning the cast iron table top on my table saw. Since moving into the new shop (still awaiting electricity btw) I’ve really only used the table saw as a $3,500 work bench lol. But, power to the shop is going down next week so I figured cleaning it up would be a great testing ground for this cordless cleaning tool.

Without doubt it worked really well. Believe me, if it sucked, I’d tell ya it sucked. The owners manual suggested the type of cleaning pad to use which was abrasive enough to remove the grime but not enough to scratch the machine finish of the cast iron.

I used good ‘ol soap-n-water and the micro-fiber non-scratch pad. The splash guard did its job to reduce the amount of splatter that comes off the wet turning head. Once the splash guard is installed then I threaded on the backing pad which has a velcro-like layer on the business side to hold the scrubbing pad in place. After that….scrubah-dub for about 30 minutes and it was good to go. There were a number of times I really leaned on this little guy which it didn’t seem to mind. It’s DC motor just pushed on through with zero issues.

Although it’s small in size it appears to pack a serious punch. The information plate on the underside of the unit says it will output 5.4Wh. Since the “Watt hour” can be a bit of a confusing unit, it may be easier to say that the unit will deliver 5.4 Watts of power for one full hour on a fully charged 4 volt Lithium-ion battery. Unlike AA or NiCad batteries, this unit will not loose performance as the battery looses charge. Plug it in for two hours after it’s drained and you’re back in business.

I can tell you from my experience the power is quite surprising. Not only will this tool tolerate some very aggressive scrubbing loads but it will also kickback on you if you’re not paying attention to what you’re doing….as is the case with any rotary tool.

The Dremel Versa not only fits well into your cupboard of cleaning supplies but would also be right at home on the boat, in the RV, or in your mobile detailing kit. At fifty American dollars, it lends itself as good gift idea for a variety of folks on your gift list.

Thanks for stopping by, I really appreciate it. This review was provided in support of the ProSpective Campaign sponsored by The Home Depot. They supply the tool and I supply an opinion. The links in this review are affiliate links and provide a small kick-back to the website which helps to keep the wheel turning. Regardless, I genuinely appreciate your support. 

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House Hunting: 5 tips for finding your first home

Buying a home is a big deal.

I know, I’ve done it three times already!  The gut-wrenching feeling you get before making one of the biggest purchases of your life is scary, especially if you are buying your first home.

I still recall those overwhelming feelings I had going into my first big purchase.  With no experience to fall back on, the homebuying process seemed so complex and intimidating.  But the good news is you can make it easier on yourself. A little preparation can go a long way.  Here are my 5 best tips to help you approach this major decision with more confidence.

Tip #1: know your budget

It goes without saying that in any market, particularly a competitive one, you need to have your financials in check.  Sellers won’t wait for a prospective buyer to figure out if they can afford the property or not.

Knowing your budget is vital before you make any leap. Not only do you want to prepare yourself with a pre-approval but you also need to figure out how much money is coming in and out of your bank account. I always create my own budget analysis using a spreadsheet on Excel.  This basically lists out how much money is coming in, all my current expenses, along with, my estimated expenses associated with owning a new home (i.e.: mortgage payment, home insurance, property taxes, utilities, groceries, etc.)

It’s nice to believe you can swing the monthly mortgage, but it’s another thing to know that you can. Understand where your paycheque goes and how much might be leaking into unknown places.

Tip #2: define what you want and need in a home

House hunting can get pretty discouraging if you can’t zero in on what exactly you are looking for.  Prepare yourself by making a list of your absolute necessities and a second list of your wants; together, these will become your guide on which houses you’ll look at in your price range.

If you find yourself not really knowing what you want in a home or you are letting your imagination run wild (which, I tend to do a lot), try a different approach.  I find that while most of us don’t always know what we want, we are pretty certain about what we don’t want. Make a list of things you want to avoid and after some head scratching, it will become evident on how you can easily convert your negatives into a positive “wants” list.

Tip #3: find a savvy real estate agent

Once you are clear on your parameters, it’s time for the fun part—touring homes!  Get in touch with a real estate agent who knows the area.  One way to find an agent is to start looking at listings in your preferred location and see what name keeps popping up; they are likely the local experts.  Another way is through word-of-mouth. What real estate agents have your family and friends used?  Listening to their personal experiences and recommendations could be very helpful.

Tip #4: do your own homework as you go

When I started my first home search years back, not only did I rely on the pros, but I also made sure to take notes and conduct my own online searches as I went along.

Knowledge is power and technology has come a long way since my first purchase. Free mobile apps like Home to Be offered by The Co-operators can help you stay organized, while giving you insight into the housing market, all in one place.

With a quick address search, you can find information such as how much the home is worth vs the asking price, you can estimate monthly mortgage payments, understand neighbourhood trends and impacts, uncover hidden costs you wouldn’t have otherwise thought about and so much more. But I must say my favourite feature of this app is the ability to take your own notes for each property you search.  It is a great way to list anything you notice, both positive and negative, while viewing a home.  You can also attach your own photos for reference, so you can easily remember it.

I know touring a ton of houses in a short amount of time can make things feel like their blending together.  With the right tools and guidance, comparing each home to the previous one can be easily done with an app like Home to Be.  This will help you when it comes time to eliminate what homes are not right for you.

Tip #5: return for second visits to your top contenders and don’t be afraid to negotiate

The first time you visit a home, you may react with more emotion. So, it’s definitely important to return to your top contenders for that second visit.  With less emotion, you can be more analytical and spot things you didn’t catch the first time.

It’s also great to bring along family and friends to gage their reactions, but remember, this could work for you or against you. Think carefully before you get other’s opinions.

Finally, when you found something you love, don’t be afraid to negotiate, especially if you have no competition. Worst case? They counteroffer. Best case? You get exactly what you wanted.

Buying your first home is not easy, simple or quick. It can be stressful at times, on top of being an educational and emotional decision, as well.

Planning in advance, doing your research, using technology and surrounding yourself with the right support team, will position yourself for success. Whether you are looking for a starter house or a forever home, the journey of home ownership is both exciting and rewarding.

Happy house hunting!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of The Co-operators. The opinions and text are all mine.

The post House Hunting: 5 tips for finding your first home appeared first on Pink Little Notebook.

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Hole Saw Tip: How to Prevent Stuck Wood Plugs - Home Improvement – Today's Homeowner

Do wood plugs get stuck in your hole saw? Joe has a Simple Solution for that problem.

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How to Build a Computer Desk

With a little bit of elbow grease and a few good cuts of red oak the wood and metal computer desk came together perfectly! My husband has been using a small run-of-the-mill desk for computer work for over a year now and I’ve been really looking forward to building a metal framed wood top desk to replace it. I was surprised with how well the finished oak came out with the help of some grain filler. I’ve never used that product before and it did wonders at providing an ultra smooth surface finish after I sprayed the top with some water based urethane. If you haven’t already, check out the video below to learn a bit more on how it all came together. As always, thanks for dropping by.
Cheers – April

ISOtunes Bluetooth Hearing Protection
Miter Saw Stand
Miter Saw
Infinity Miter Saw Blade
Ultimiate Workbench Plans
Triton Biscuit Jointer
Blue Bar Clamps
Titebond Original Wood Glue
Lincoln Mig 210 MP
Welding Hood

Welding Jacket
Welding Gloves
Triton 4″ Belt Sander
Triton ROS
Triton Palm ROS
Triton Track saw
Rockler Clamp It Jig
Rockler Z Clips
Triton SuperJaws
Glue Brush

 Triton Drills
18 Gauge Brad Nailer
Rockler Bandy Clamps
Rockler Bench Cookies
Fuji HVLP Sprayer
Fuji Hose Whip
Aqua Coat Stain
Aqua Coat Grain Filler
Aqua Coat Cross-Linking Top Coat
Titebond Instant Bond

Some of the links above are affiliate links. If you make a purchase using one of these links, I will get a small commission from the sale of the products.  In a small way it helps to keep this website alive and kicking and I appreciate your support in this way. Cheers – April

 

The post How to Build a Computer Desk appeared first on Wilker Do's.

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Do It! Build a Decorative Bar - Home Improvement – Today's Homeowner

Homeowners who enjoy entertaining family and friends outdoors can enhance their patio with a decorative bar. We’re using a pressure-treated 2×4 frame cut to the length of the fence section where the bar will be mounted. The bar will be 18 inches deep. We will use square butt joints — secured with 3-inch nails or […]

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America’s Home Expert Danny Lipford Helps Homeowners Create the Perfect Backyard Paradise - Home Improvement – Today's Homeowner

"Today’s Homeowner" host Danny Lipford shares advice to get the most out of a home's outdoor spaces.

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This Versatile Tote Keeps Tools Organized and Within Reach - Home Improvement – Today's Homeowner

With 12 pockets and a cell phone holder, this bag sets you up to get some work done.

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Carving a Large Wooden Spoon

This large wooden spoon has been on my list of fun projects for a long time. I used several old cedar cut-offs from previous projects to glue up my blank which I slowly carved away using a variety of different cutting tools. Now I may have taken the long way around the horse by committing myself to this giant glue-up, but the pieces had sentimental value from past projects so the sacrifice in time and effort was well worth it to me. My friend Anne from ‘Anne of All Trades‘  took the time to forge a draw knife which I permanently attached to the sculpture once I was finished carving. There is a bit of back story to spoon carving between Anne and I which I outline in the video down below. I encourage you to check it out if you haven’t already. As always, thanks for stopping by and have a great day.

Cheers – April

Things I Used in This Project:

ISOtunes Bluetooth Hearing Protection
Triton SuperJaws
Triton 7″ Planer
Titebond III
Blue Clamps
Triton Drills

Stihl 271 Farm Boss
Instant Bond
Stihl Chaps
Stihl 181
Stihl 170
Respirator

 Arbortech Turboplane
Arbortech Mini Grinder
Arbortech Ball Gouge
Triton ROS
Triton Palm ROS
Titebond II

Some of the links above are affiliate links. If you make a purchase using one of these links, I will get a small commission from the sale of the products.  In a small way it helps to keep this website alive and kicking and I appreciate your support in this way. Cheers – April

The post Carving a Large Wooden Spoon appeared first on Wilker Do's.

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